ABSTRACT
New methods for microbiological quality assurance (MQA) are available as replacements for traditional plating techniques. MQA is a vital function within the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and toiletries industries. There have been a variety of methods suggested to fulfil the requirements of the industries include electrical, adenosine triphosphate bioluminescence, direct epifluorescent filtration technique, microcalorimetry, flow cytometry, and limulus amoebocyte lysate. The methods also include DNA/RNA probes, enzyme monitoring and detection of electron transfer, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, immunomagnetic separation, biophotometry, radiometry, gas detection, biosensors, and filtration. The chapter describes the newer microbial identification techniques which are not routinely used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic or toiletry industries at the present time. Microbial identification is obtained by electrophoresing radiolabeled proteins obtained by growing the micro-organisms in S methionine. Microbial fatty acids can be separated and identified using gas chromatography. Microbial isolates are heated in a vacuum, which causes thermal breakdown of the cells.
