High Hydrostatic Pressure as a Method to Reduce Microbial Contamination of Porcine Blood Plasma

The suitability of high hydrostatic pressure as an alternative method to produce porcine blood plasma with a sufficient microbial stability without affecting its functional properties was evaluated. The effects of high pressure on plasma microorganisms were highly dependent on processing temperature. Treatments of 15 min at 450 MPa carried out at 5 'C led to reductions of about 90% in microbial counts and to 20-50% decreases in the growth ability of the survivors. At 25 'C and 40 'C, the efficiency was increased to reduction values of 99.82 and 99.97%, respectively. The lowering of the growth capacity was about 50% at 25 'C and up to 80% at 40 'C. The most efficient treatment (450 MPa, for 15 min at 40 'C) did not lead to appreciable negative effects on the functional properties of heat-induced gels from porcine blood plasma.