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Use of the Limulus test to determine the hygienic status of milk products as characterized by levels of Gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide present

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 2009

Karlo Hansen ,
Tom Mikkelsen  and
Aage Møller-Madsen
Karlo Hansen
Affiliation:
The Danish Government Research Institute for Dairy Industry, DK-3400 Hillerød, Denmark,
Tom Mikkelsen
Affiliation:
University Clinic for Infectious Diseases, M 7701 Rigshospitalet, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark,
Aage Møller-Madsen
Affiliation:
The Danish Government Research Institute for Dairy Industry, DK-3400 Hillerød, Denmark,
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Summary

The Limulus test was used to investigate the occurrence of Gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in milk and dairy products. This test specifically detects the extremely heat-resistant LPS, and so determines the total accumulated quantity of LPS in a product whether it has been heat-treated or not. A positive correlation between number of psychrotrophic bacteria and amount of LPS in fresh farm milk was found (r = 0·63). Fresh farm milk and freshly produced market milk contained on average < 1 ng LPS/ml. The Limulus test is considered highly suitable for use in the dairy industry, being a method which will characterize quickly and specifically the hygienic level of a product by the extent of the cumulative contamination by Gram-negative bacteria.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Journal of Dairy Research , Volume 49 , Issue 2 , May 1982 , pp. 323 - 328
Copyright
Copyright © Proprietors of Journal of Dairy Research 1982

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References

REFERENCES

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