MICROBIAL QUALITY OF LAMB CARCASSES DURING PROCESSING AND THE ACRIDINE-ORANGE DIRECT COUNT TECHNIQUE (A MODIFIED DEFT) FOR RAPID ENUMERATION OF TOTAL VIABLE COUNTS

This study was designed to set up a hazard analysis and critical contr ol points (HACCP) system for sheep slaughtering operations at four dif ferent plants in Ireland and to determine the differences between plan ts in terms of microbial contamination. A single carcass area, the abd omen, was examined by swabbing and a microbiological profile was deter mined at different stages along the slaughter line. The level of conta mination was assessed from the total bacteria counts, Enterobacteriace ae and Listeria spp. For the total counts: a modified direct epifluore scent filter technique (acridine orange direct count technique (AODC)) was developed and tested. No significant differences were found among plants in the level of bacterial contamination. This was observed for all groups of organisms. The rapid direct technique (AODC) was found to be very successful. A correlation coefficient of 0.87 was obtained for this method and the standard plate count. Each test could be carri ed out in about 10-15 min and could be used to predict the standard pl ate count. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.