Monitoring the microbial contamination of beef carcass tissue with a rapid chromogenic Limulus amoebocyte lysate endpoint assay

Abstract

A chromogenic Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) endpoint assay was found to be an accurate and rapid means of gauging levels of beef carcass microbial contamination within 10 min. The assay demonstrated a high correlation with the total mesophilic bacterial and coliform surface populations from inoculated beef carcass surface tissues. This assay was tested on a set of actual beef carcass surface samples (n = 121) demonstrating the utility of the chromogenic LAL test as a means of monitoring carcass microbial contamination in a near real‐time fashion. Classifying the chromogenic LAL results into four contamination groups was found to be a sound means of utilizing the resultant chromogenic LAL data for detecting carcasses with high levels of microbial contamination. For beef carcass testing, this assay can be used with no instrumentation other than the required 37 °C incubator and, as an option, a microplate reader.

Determination of Biogenic Amines and Endotoxin in Squid, Musky Octopus, Norway Lobster, and Mussel Stored at Room Temperature

“…Endotoxin was measured using the chromogenic LAL endpoint assay, which is based on the activation of a clotting enzyme in the lysate (14). The LAL test was purchased from Charles River Endosafe (Charleston, SC, USA).…”

“…This assay was applied in several studies as a quick, alternative method for microbiological testing and hygiene control of fi sh (12,13) and meat (14). Several studies demonstrated a high correlation between the LAL test and the microbial quality of the products (12,14). Currently, this test has not been applied in testing the freshness/spoilage of non-fin fish.…”

“…The Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) assay is a highly sensitive and standard test for endotoxin measurement in various environments. This assay was applied in several studies as a quick, alternative method for microbiological testing and hygiene control of fi sh (12,13) and meat (14). Several studies demonstrated a high correlation between the LAL test and the microbial quality of the products (12,14).…”

Toxicity profile of commercially produced indigenous banana beer

“…Numerous other studies have reported the application of the LAL assay in the food industry, as a better way of monitoring microbial contamination (Siragusa et al 2000) and to evaluate the influence of standard heat treatment and chemical preservation with sodium benzoate on the changes in LPS-related endotoxicity of food-borne pothogenic micro-organisms (Abraham et al 2009b). …”

Use of a simple catalase assay for assessment of aerobic microbial contamination on vegetables

“…However, the values of ATP are variable in foods and a specific instrument is needed for the ATP analysis (Siragusa et al 1995). Chromogenic Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) test was reported for estimating aerobic plate counts and coliform counts; however, the test only monitors lipopolysaccharide in Gram-negative bacteria (Siragusa et al 2000).…”