Comparison of 3M Petrifilm Staph Express Count Plates, and 3M Petrifilm Rapid Coliform Count Plates with Standard Bacteriology of Bovine Milk

Abstract

Isolation and identification of mastitis pathogens is a fundamental step in milk quality control programs. There is a need for an inexpensive and rapid bacteriologic test that allows veterinarians as well as dairy producers to make real-time decisions to better manage udder health in their herds. Petrifilm plates may fill this gap. Petrifilm plates are ready-to-use culture media that are used primarily in the food industry. The objectives were 1) Evaluate the test characteristics of the Petrifilm Staph express Count Plates (STX) for identification of S. aureus from milk. Milk samples were taken from cows a) in the first 30 days in milk, b) with high somatic cell count (SCC) during lactation, c) with clinical mastitis. 2) Evaluate the test characteristics of the Petrifilm Rapid Coliform Count Plates (RCC) for identification of coliforms from cases of clinical mastitis.