Microbial luminescence system is said to be revolutionising the microbiological testing of ultra high temperature and extended shelf life products in the dairy industry
The Cogent microbial luminescence system (MLS) from Biotrace International is said to be revolutionising the microbiological testing of ultra high temperature (UHT) and extended shelf life (ESL) products in the dairy industry.
Suitable for the most demanding bioluminescence requirements, the Cogent MLS comprises a state-of-the-art microplate luminometer with a powerful software package to deliver extremely high levels of precision, sensitivity, flexibility and reliability.
At the size of a desktop computer, it has been designed to minimise the number of moving parts to reduce interfering static build-up, and deliver problem-free performance over the life of the instrument.
Wayne Dairy of Indiana, USA, uses rapid ATP-bioluminescence for all its ESL product testing.
The company switched to this method of sterility failure detection in dairy samples, as traditional agar-based methods were taking between three to five days for product clearance.
The Cogent system provides reliable results at least 48 hours faster than traditional culture methods, allowing products to be cleared in half the time.
The testing procedure is less labour-intensive and the MLS displays a high correlation when compared to plate counts.
Products tested at Wayne Dairy using ATP-bioluminescence include skimmed milk, up to 40% whipped cream, five types of flavoured milk and several flavours of soya milk, with the dairy's biggest product volume by far being ice-cream mixes.
Wayne Dairy has been using the Cogent MLS since the initial evaluation in 1997.
Director of quality assurance Tom Jacobs explained: "The primary benefits we have experienced by using the MLS are faster results, greater confidence in those results, and quicker turnaround time when results need to be duplicated.
"Reducing the hold time of finished goods decreases the cost of our warehouse space, and allows products to reach the market quicker and generate sales".
