Application of a Rapid Test Strip Method in Quantitative Detection of Microorganisms in Chilled Meat

Abstract:

[Objective] This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of using the rapid test strip method for detecting key microbial quality control indicators in chilled meat, specifically the total plate count and Escherichia coli/coliforms.[Method] The performance of the rapid test strip method was assessed through repeatability tests, and the national standard plate count method was used as the reference for method comparison. Statistical significance of the quantification results was analyzed by a t-test, and linear regression was adopted to analyze the correlation.[Result] The repeatability deviation of the rapid test strip method (r≤0.25) met the requirements of ISO 4833—1:2013. No significant difference was observed between the results of the rapid test strip method and the plate count method, and the results of the two methods demonstrated a positive correlation.[Conclusion] The rapid test strip method demonstrates good repeatability and accuracy, and thus it can be used for the rapid quantification of the total plate count and Escherichia coli/coliforms in chilled meat, providing technical support for microbial safety monitoring in chilled meat.