Impedance microbiology and microbial screening strategy for detecting pathogens in food

Impedance microbiology is the detection and quantification of bacterial growth by measuring the electrical impedance change during microbial metabolism which allows the identification of viable and nonviable cells. This method uses various techniques to improve the sensitivity and selectivity of bacterial detection, and these include equivalent circuit analysis, interdigitated array microelectrodes (IDAMs), microchips, biosensors, and nanomaterials for bacterial detection. The advantage of impedance microbiology is that the data can be obtained within a short time, with good sensitivity and selectivity using a small sample. The disadvantages of impedance testing include the contamination issues, the need for specific selective media, and interference from food matrices. Various rapid microbiological testing platforms involving impedance continue to be explored as tools to manage food safety and quality.