edited by P. Patel

Traditional microbiological techniques are increasingly being replaced by a new generation of rapid or alternative methods able to produce results much more quickly and reliably. This highly practical book reviews the current status of these techniques from an international perspective, and with particular emphasis on commercially available detection and estimation systems. This book is for biochemists, microbiologists and technologists in the food industry and academic, research and public health institutions.

Contents:
History of and prospects for rapid and instrumental methodology for the microbiological examination of foods: The contemporary role and the character of microbiological examination of food samples. Pitfalls in introducing 'rapid' methods. An overall appraisal of analytical principles suggested. Suitability of the most promising, available principles. Achievements and prospects. Impact for education at undergraduate and postgraduate level.
Development and evaluation of membrane filtration techniques in microbial analysis: Brief history of membrane filters. Early uses of membrane filters. Inter-brand variability of membrane filters. Current status of membrane filter methods. Analyses based on membrane filters. HGMF. Millipore samplers.
Evaluation of commercial kits and instruments for the detection of foodborne bacterial pathogens and toxins: Detection of foodborne pathogens. Detection of bacterial toxins. Future perspectives.
Microbiological applications of immunomagnetic techniques: ImmunoDynabeads for separation and concentration of Salmonella. Potential of novel colloidal magnetic fluids in microbial analysis. Immunomagnetic detection of bacterial toxins. Future perspectives.
Automated electrical techniques in microbiological analysis: What do the instruments measure? When are measurements made? Are assays faster than those by conventional tests? Current instrumentation and systems. Instrument outputs. Spoilage assays. Detection and enumeration of indicator organisms. Detection of pathogens. Indirect conductimetry. Future trends.
Modern methods for the detection of viruses in food: Background. Preparation of samples. Cell culture. Immunoassays. Nucleic acid hybridization. Gene amplification. Other methods. Why look for viruses in foods? Future prospects.
Luminescent techniques for microbiological analysis of foods: ATP bioluminescence. Bacteriophage bioluminescence. Future trends.
Modern methods for detecting and enumerating foodborne fungi: Cultural methods. Rapid methods.
Scope for rapid microbiological methods in modern food production: Traditional approach to microbiological control. HACCP approach to microbiological control. Regulatory perspectives. Future directions.
Detection and identification of foodborne microbial pathogens by the polymerase chain reaction: food safety applications: Foodborne diseases. PCR fundamentals. PCR: some practical considerations. PCR format variations and applications. Immunomagnetic separation and PCR. PCR detection and identification of foodborne microorganisms: bacteria. PCR detection and identification of foodborne microorganisms: viruses. PCR detection and identification of foodborne microorganisms: parasites.

Index.

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