consumables along with more sophisticated foolproof software. For food
service, which currently does little testing, the future is likely to be the
introductionof veryeasyto use, low-cost, non-instrumenttests.
36.5.1 Testmethods
Changesin test methodsare likely to be drivenby versatility, speed,specificity,
sensitivityand cost. Moreinnovativeapproachesare likelyin the design of
flexible agar contactsystems,suitablefor use on irregular-shapedsurfaces.
Morerapid microbiological tests will be developed. This maybe in isolation or
in combinationwithtestsfor the presenceof specificpathogens. The ability to
detectlowerlevels of ATPhas developedoverrecentyearswith,depending
uponthe reagentsand howtheyare produced, the ability to detectbelow 1
femtomoleof ATP.ATPor microbiological tests,specificand sensitive enough
to detect verylow levels of bacteriaor ATP,evenin dry conditions,could be
developed. Newformats,other thanswabs, maybe devised.Currently,no rapid
test is wellsuitedfor testingsurfacesthat are highin fats,and testsspecificfor
fats and oils would be usefulfor some processors.
36.5.2 Guidelines/cleaning standards
Whenprosecutionsfor dirty premises/equipment,particularly in the foodservice
sector,take placetheyare usuallybasedon visualassessment.Thismaychange
withthe developmentof proposed referencevaluesfor surfaces aftercleaningin
foodpremises.However, this depends on improved test reproducibility.Guide-
linesvarywidely(see Table36.8)and whileoften theiroriginsare unclear, they
Table36.8 Somerecommendedguidelines/standardsfor cleansurfaces
Suggestedvalues Dateand source
80 cfu/cm^2 Herbertet al.(1990)
5 cfu/cm^2 USDA(1994)
0±10cfu/cm^2 for aerobic EC Decision2001.Meat(HazardAnalysisCriticalControl
colonycount Point)Regulations 2002
0±1 cfu/cm^2
Enterobacteriaecae
<2.5 cfu/cm^2 Mosselet al.(1999)
<2.5 cfu/cm^2 Griffithet al.(2000)
<500-RLUs Appliesto use of one specificATPtest/equipment
combination(Griffithet al., 2000)
Target1 cfu/cm^2 SwedishFoodAgency(1998)
Maximumof 3 cfu/cm^2
Improvingsurfacesamplingand detection of contamination 615