Recent sensing technologies for pathogen detection in milk: A review

• This review reports on foodborne pathogen detection technologies in milk.
• The integration of sample preparation is highlighted as essential development.
• Lab on chip holds the potential to fulfil regulatory and industry requirements.
• The concepts of Detection Probability and Practical Detection Limit are debated.
• A road map of likely system development is proposed.

Quality control utilising Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points in the dairy industry generates a large volume of samples. The associated costs are significant. The development and application of fast, sensitive and cost effective analytical systems for pathogen detection in milk could aid the industry in the reduction of overheads, find new uses in dairy farming and production precision management and unlock new markets. Recent progress in pathogen sensing technologies for milk analysis, in particular nucleic acid amplification and biosensors, is reviewed here. The importance of representative samples, detection probability and Practical Detection Limit is clarified. Methods for sample pretreatment are discussed in association with the most applicable detection methods. The major findings are summarised and future perspectives are drawn to inspire new ideas in the scientific community.