Abstract
Total plate counts, coliform counts and E. coli in food samples determined by a rapid measurement kit “ SimPlate” were compared with those determined by conventional methods: the pour plate methods using plate count agar, desoxycholate agar and 3M Petrifilm EC plate. The results are shown below.
1. The correlation coefficient between the total counts in 154 food samples determined using “SimPlate” and the standard agar plate method was 0.95, showing a very high correlation.
2. Of 258 food samples, 131 and 112 samples were coliform positive on plates using “Sim-Plate” and desoxycholate agar. The correlation coefficient of the coliform counts on the two media was 0.79, showing a good correlation.
3. Of 65 pork meats, E. coli was detected, using “SimPlate” and 3M Petrifilm EC plate 54 and 52 samples, respectively, and the correlation of E. coli counts obtained by the two methods was 0.86.
4. 96 strains isolated from fluorescent wells of “SimPlate” were E. coli 95 strains and K. cryocrescens 1 strain.
The above findings clarified that “SimPlate” obtained results comparable to those obtained by the conventional total count, coliform counts and E. coli count methods in food samples and thus, the rapid measurement kit “SimPlate” is useful for rapid on-site testing of food samples.
