STANDARDIZATION OF PORTABLE CULTURE DEVICE FOR ESTIMATION OF TOTAL VIABLE COUNT FROM FOOD SAMPLES

Background: Bacterial contamination in food originates from diverse sources, including humans and processing equipment, and often increases during storage, thereby affecting the food quality. Traditional methods for bacterial enumeration involve time-consuming processes, whereas newer techniques such as biosensors offer quicker alternatives at higher costs. Portable culture devices (PCD) have emerged as practical solutions for addressing the need for on-site testing, particularly in resource-limited settings. This study aimed to standardize the use of PCDs to semi-quantify microorganisms in food samples. Via Methods: ble organisms were successfully semi-quantitatively enumerated using enzyme-chromogenic substrate interactions. The de Results: vice, optimized at a substrate -1 concentration of 1 gL and a temperature of 28°C, can detect cell counts of up to 10 CFU/mL. Tests co Conclusion: nducted on experimentally contaminated food samples, in addition to independent on-site detection without the requirement of typical laboratory facilities, demonstrate the feasibility of Portable Culture Devices (PCDs) as substitutes for conventional culture-based detection methods. They are appropriate for on-thespot testing in areas with limited resources because they are cost-effective and simple.