HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Russell, S. M. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Russell, S. M.

Evaluation of the BioSys Optical Method for Rapidly Enumerating Populations of Aerobic Bacteria, Coliforms, and Escherichia coli from Broiler Chicken Carcasses

Department of Poultry Science, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-2772; Phone: 706-542-1368; FAX: 706-542-1827

Correspondence: S. M. Russell, E-mail:srussell{at}arches.uga.edu

A study was conducted to determine if a rapid optical method could be used to enumerate total aerobic bacteria, coliforms, and Escherichia coli from broiler chicken carcasses. The BioSys optical method was compared with standard methods for enumerating bacteria. For chicken carcasses, the correlation coefficients for the regression lines comparing aerobic plate counts, coliform counts, and E. coli most probable numbers (MPN) to BioSys [1] optical method measurements were -0.92, -0.92, and -0.91, respectively. Results demonstrated that, using the BioSys method, data were obtained in 2 to 11 h, rather than the 48 h required to conduct aerobic plate counts (APC) or coliform counts or the 8 d required to conduct the MPN procedure. These methods would allow processors to test a product and obtain results prior to shipping the product, avoiding the cost and loss of reputation associated with a recall or food-borne illness outbreak. In addition, the histogram program provided with the BioSys System would allow easy detection of samples that exceed customer or U. S. D. A. specification limits.

Key Words: BioSys • rapid enumeration • total viable count • coliforms • Escherichia coli • chicken