A COMPARISON OF RESAZURIN TEST SCORES ON MILK, AFTER 1 AND 3 HOURS AND COMPARING IT WITH TOTAL BACTERIA, COLIFORM AND SOMATIC CELL COUNTS

Abstract

The present study was conducted to compare results of a resazurin test on milk, scoring it after 1 hour and 3 hours and relating it to total bacterial count, coliform count and somatic cell counts. Milk samples from the bulk tanks of 337 dairy farms in Amphur Muang and Kumpangsan, Nakhon Pathom Province, were collected during October to December, 1998. Results from multiple regression analyses showed that the resazurin test scored 1 hour later was associated only with the total bacterial count (p < 0.05), but after 3 hours associations with total bacteria, coliform and somatic cell counts were seen (p < 0.05). We conclude that a resazurin test scored after 3 hours gave a better result than the test scored after 1 hour when judging total bacteria, coliform and somatic cell counts