Now there is no more waiting. With the rapid plates, confirmed coliform colonies can begin to appear at eight to twelve hours of incubation or earlier if the sample is heavily contaminated. We can rectify a situation faster by using this method. In addition to the time saved, the use of the rapid coliform count plates is more efficient because they are easier to dispose of and more compact. Faster methods mean that the plant becomes more efficient and more productive.
Key departments are able to stay on top of test data and other process information.
While many companies rely on conventional microbiological methods, staff numbers and expertise are not always there to ensure proper media preparation and plating. This dairy uses sample-ready count plates to address time and quality issues. Despite the hype encouraging food microbiologists to try the latest analytical tools and techniques, one California dairy processor learned years ago that when it comes to microbiological testing, the simplest methods are often the best. Plating product samples is the most important part of our microbial testing program, and it's also the step where mistakes can be made. For example, media preparation, if not carried out correctly, can result in agar that is too hot, which kills bacteria, or too cold, which can cause clumping.