Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #238435
Title: Detection of fecal residue on poultry carcasses by laser induced fluorescence imaging techniques

Author
item CHO, BYOUNG-KWAN - Chungnam National University
item Kim, Moon
item Chao, Kuanglin - Kevin Chao
item Lawrence, Kurt
item Park, Bosoon
item KIM, KIBOK - Korea Research Institute

Submitted to: Journal of Food Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/16/2009
Publication Date: 4/29/2009
Citation: Cho, B., Kim, M.S., Chao, K., Lawrence, K.C., Park, B., Kim, K. 2009. Detection of fecal residue on poultry carcasses by laser induced fluorescence imaging techniques. Journal of Food Science. 74(3):154-159.

Interpretive Summary: A fluorescence imaging system (LIFIS) was developed to detect poultry fecal matter on poultry carcasses. The system can detect a range of diluted fecal matter from various sections of the digestive tract including gizzard, duodenum, small intestine, ceca, and colon. One of the challenges for using fluorescence imaging for inspection of agricultural products is the low fluorescence yield, in that fluorescence emissions can be masked by background light. The LIFIS solves this problem. Fluorescence emission images at 630 nm were captured with 415 nm laser excitation. Image processing algorithms, incorporating thresholding and image erosion, were used to identify sample spots of fecal matter on poultry carcasses. Fecal spots, for undiluted samples and those diluted up to 80 percent, could be detected with 100 percent accuracy regardless of feces type. Detection accuracy was 96.6 percent for fecal matter diluted up to 90 percent. This fluorescence sensing system and methodologies will be useful to food processing scientists, engineers, regulatory government agencies, and poultry processing industries.

Technical Abstract: The potential use of laser-induced fluorescence imaging techniques was investigated for the detection of diluted fecal matters from various parts of the digestive tract, including colon, ceca, small intestine, and duodenum, on poultry carcasses. One of the challenges for using fluorescence imaging for inspection of agricultural materials is the low fluorescence yield, in that fluorescence can be masked by ambient light. A laser-induced fluorescence imaging system (LIFIS) developed by our group allowed acquisition of fluorescence from feces-contaminated poultry carcasses in ambient light. Fluorescence emission images at 630 nm were captured with 415 nm laser excitation. Image processing algorithms incorporating thresholding and image erosion were used to identify fecal spots diluted up to 1:10 by weight with double distilled water. Feces spots on the carcasses, without dilution and for dilutions up to 1:5, could be detected with 100 percent accuracy regardless of feces type. Detection accuracy for fecal matter diluted up to 1:10 was 96.6 percent. Results demonstrated the good potential of using the LIFIS for inspection of poultry carcasses to detect diluted poultry fecal matter, which can harbor pathogens.