Application of the Limulus amoebocyte lysate test as an indicator of microbial contamination in pork carcasses

The Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) test, a simple and rapid method, was applied for the evaluation of bacterial contamination of carcasses in a slaughterhouse. Twenty-five pork carcasses were examined for bacterial contamination, and we evaluated the correlation between the LAL test and the methods usually employed for detecting indicator organisms of total viable cells, coliforms or Staphylococcus aureus. The reciprocal of the highest dilution found to be positive was used as the LAL index. A high correlation was observed between the LAL index and the number of coliforms, but not between the index and the number of other organisms. The LAL test was accomplished within 2 hr after sampling, and thus may serve as a useful tool for the substitute indicator of coliforms among bacterial contamination in carcasses.