Use of Hygicult-tpc in slaughterhouse hygiene control.

Efficacy of Hygicult-tpc contact agar to control hygiene of slaughter equipment before work was studied in 3 slaughterhouses. Brushes from pork lines had higher bacterial counts (77 +/- 114 cfu on Hygicult slide) than other pieces of equipment in pork (55 +/- 101) and beef (42 +/- 110) lines. Low hygienic levels were found also in aprons, knives and conveyor belts. In general, equipment hygiene varied among the slaughterhouses studied (17 +/- 70, 45 +/- 128, 111 +/- 140) and in the comparisons of certain special equipment. Hygienic levels of the equipment were classified into 3 subclasses according to Hygicult counts. Sterilizers and saws had the lowest counts; aprons, and polishing and prescalding brushes had moderate counts. Highest counts were detected in rubber backscraping brushes and steel brushes used to clean pork carcasses and in conveyor belts. Such equipment is difficult to clean, and the bacterial count of 120 on a Hygicult slide is therefore recommended as the acceptable level after cleaning. The level of 50 on a Hygicult slide is recommended as the acceptable level for equipment, which is easy to clean. The limits recommended are based on the distribution of the Hygicult counts obtained. Hygicult-tpc is suitable for slaughterhouse hygiene control with an incubation for 72 h at 25 degrees C. The flexible handle enables sampling of surfaces that are hard to access with unflexible slides and agars.