Abstract

TORRES DE FREITAS, Ameysa; DURAN, Zandra  and  RODRIGUEZ, Carmen. Acidez titulable como control de calidad para la leche humana. Arch Venez Puer Ped [online]. 2009, vol.72, n.3, pp.92-96. ISSN 0004-0649.

Assessment of  titratable acidity is a test of physical chemistry quality control for human milk that should be performed routinely as a qualifier parameter in human milk banks. Objective: To analyze the titratable acidity as quality control for human milk in the Milk Bank of the University Hospital Complex "Ruiz y Páez" Ciudad Bolivar, Bolivar state, between February and March 2007.  Methods: 50 samples obtained by mechanical extraction of  human milk donors were analyzed in triplicate. Titratable acidity by the Dornic method and bacterial aerobic mesophilic count according to Venezuelan Standard COVENIN 902-87 were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed by the arithmetic mean, Chi-square test and Pearson correlation coefficient.  Results:  78% of the samples (n = 37) presented acceptable acidity (1 º D-8 º D), and 22% (n = 13) were not acceptable (> 8 º to 20 º D).  Microbial development was detected in all samples, with values up to 105 CFU / mL. A positive relation was found between titratable acidity and total bacterial load (r=0,79).  Conclusion: Titratable acidity reflects the degree of bacterial contamination of human milk and can be regarded as an adequate test for physical chemistry quality control.

Keywords : Titratable acidity; Dornic degrees; microbial load; human milk; human milk banks.