ELECTRODE-LINKED MEMBRANE FILTRATION FOR THE RAPID ENUMERATION OF BACTERIA

TRADITIONAL METHODS FOR THE ENUMERATION OF BACTERIA ARE SLOW, INEFFICIENT AND LABOR- INTENSIVE. THERE ARE CONSIDERABLE ECONOMIC BENEFITS TO BEING ABLE TO ASSESS THE MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF FOODSTUFF RAPIDLY, AND THERE IS AN URGENT NEED FOR NEW METHODS. THE RESEARCH WILL FOCUS ON A NEW METHOD FOR RAPID DETERMINATION OF BACTERIA IN MILK. BACTERIA FROM RAW MILK WILL BE PRECONCENTRATED ONTO POLYCARBONATE MEMBRANE FILTERS. BACTERIA COUNTING WILL BE ACHIEVED USING HIGHLY SENSITITVE ELECTRODES TO DETECT MICROBE- DEPENDENT ELECTRICAL CURRENTS. THE METHOD WILL BE SENSITIVE BOTH TO LOW CONCENTRATIONS OF BACTERIA (<103 BACTERIA PER ML) TO SITUATIONS WHERE THE METABOLIC ACTIVITY OF BACTERIA IS LOW, AS IS OFTEN THE CASE IN MILK AND FOOD SAMPLES. THE ELECTRICAL SIGNAL FACILITIES AUTOMATEDCOUNTING AND DATA COLLECTION BY MICROCOMPUTER, ALLOWING MANY SAMPLE TO BE COUNTED AT ONCE. COUNTING IS COMPLETE WITHIN 30 MINUTES, NO INCUBATION PERIOD IS REQUIRED AND SAMPLE PRETREATMENT IS MINIMAL. THE CAPITAL COSTS OF THE EQUIPMENT ARE MODERATE. THERE IS A LOW REQUIREMENT FOR LABOR COMPARED TO METHODS USED AT PRESENT; HENCE, THERE WILL BE A CONSIDERABLE COST SAVINGS TO THE USER.