HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by O'Brien, J. E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by O'Brien, J. E.

Automated Test for Milk Phosphatase

Division of Laboratories and Research, New York State Department of Health, Albany

ABSTRACT

A testing procedure for alkaline phosphatase activity in milk was devised with the primary purpose of subjecting to automatic analysis the process of evaluating adequacy of pasteurization.

An additional benefit was derived with this test in that measurable phosphatase activity now encompasses the full range from zero to that represented by raw milk. As a consequence, it is now possible to detect with accuracy addition of heated milk to raw milk for the illegal purpose of reducing the overall bacterial count.

The test is based upon the principle of measuring phenol released from a substrate by enzyme activity at pH 10.0. Measurement of phenol is accomplished with 4-aminoantipyrine reagent, a standard procedure for phenol in water but has not been used in analyses of milk.

Automation is achieved by use of a Technicon AutoAnalyzer. The system measures enzyme activity in 3-ml samples of milk sequentially at the rate of 20 per hour. Processing time for each sample is approximately 35 minutes. Comparison between the results of the automatic method and a manual American Public Health Association standard method is presented.