Life Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ:LIFE) today announced that its Applied Biosystems MicroSEQ® Salmonella spp. Detection Kit has been validated by the AOAC Research Institute for detection of the bacteria Salmonella. This validation from one of the world’s leading food industry standards organizations is expected to enable more effective monitoring of the food supply for Salmonella contamination and help ensure food safety.
“We expect the AOAC validation of our MicroSEQ Salmonella spp. Detection Kit will give food industry professionals great confidence in the results of molecular tests for the presence of this bacterium in food samples”
Salmonella is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The bacterium can contaminate a wide variety of foods including meats, poultry, dairy products, eggs, fruits and vegetables, even during and after processing steps. Examples of foods contaminated in wide-spread outbreaks of Salmonella include peanut butter, and more recently black pepper used in salami and Italian sausage. This most recent Salmonella outbreak sickened hundreds in the United States and prompted a recall of over 1.2 million pounds of ready-to-eat salami earlier this year.
The MicroSEQ Salmonella spp. Detection Kit has been validated by the AOAC Research Institute for use with 11 different food sample types, and for both high and low-throughput testing workflows. This validation meets the stringent pathogen detection requirements of many companies and testing organizations responsible for safeguarding food supplies.
“The safety of our food supply has become an increasingly important issue, and food companies and food testing organizations are seeking validated tools and methods to help protect public health,” said Dr. Sharon Brunelle, a technical consultant, AOAC Research Institute. “Life Technologies has demonstrated that the MicroSEQ Salmonella spp. Detection Kit performs as well or better than the ISO reference method for a variety of foods, earning Performance Tested MethodsSM certification from the AOAC Research Institute.”
The MicroSEQ Salmonella spp. Detection Kit is part of a complete pathogen detection workflow based on proven Applied Biosystems technology, and optimized for use with the Applied Biosystems 7500 Fast Real-Time PCR System. The rapid pathogen detection workflow requires only small amounts of sample to ensure detection of Salmonella in less than 18 hours, as compared to several days with conventional methods. It includes options for low and high-throughput sample preparation and streamlined data analysis software. Use of the kit is simplified by a recent innovation that combines fast real-time PCR-based molecular technology in a lyophilized – or dried – format that reduces the handling of samples, and the chances of contamination.
“We expect the AOAC validation of our MicroSEQ Salmonella spp. Detection Kit will give food industry professionals great confidence in the results of molecular tests for the presence of this bacterium in food samples,” said Brian Kim, General Manager, Applied Molecular Testing for Life Technologies. “Utilizing this kit along with our AOAC Research Institute validated kit for detection of Listeria monocytogenes will help government agencies and industry professionals to ensure that food supplies are protected from these harmful pathogens.”
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