Abstract

HERNANDEZ-EUGENIO, Guadalupe; ECHEVERRIA-LANDIN, Eliubi  and  HAHN SCHLAM, Federico. Detection of Escherichia Coli growth using infrared thermography. Agrociencia [online]. 2007, vol.41, n.5, pp.503-511. ISSN 2521-9766.

The determination of microbiological contamination should be rapid and should be measured in situ. In the present work, a rapid and portable methodology was developed for the detection of Escherichia coli, based on the analysis of infrared thermal images. Cultures of E. coli in classic agar LEVINE medium were photographed in thermal images, obtained by means of an infrared camera (IR). Two prototypes were coupled to the IR camera for the purpose of maintaining a constant temperature (37 °C) of the samples. The first of these radiated heat at the base of the samples, while the second heated the sample radially. The growth kinetic was followed by thermal images, resulting that the minimum detection time of microbial contamination was at 5 h of growth. The most adequate device was the one that provided heat at the base of the samples. In addition, prediction models were obtained for establishing bacterial presence with a prediction efficiency of 100%.

Keywords : Escherichia coli; infrared camera; emissivity; radiometer.

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