Rapid CE microbial assays for consumer products that contain active bacteria

Recent advances in high efficiency separation methods of bacteria allow the ir rapid identification and quantitation in some cases. A specific capillar y electrophoresis (CE) technique is used to identify and quantitate Lactoba cillus acidophilus ill both pill and syrup health products as well as Bifid obacterium infantis in a powdered formula supplement. Cell viability can be evaluated as well. In some cases, both the living and dead bacterial cells as well as the molecular excipients can be evaluated in a single run. (C) 2001 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevie r Science B.V. All rights reserved.