DuPont BAX System extends AOAC-RI validation

THE DuPont (TM) BAX (R) System has recently obtained a method extension from the AOAC Research Institute (AOAC-RI), a subsidiary of AOAC International in Rockville, Md., for its real-time PCR assays for Listeria to include validation of a new proprietary enrichment media.

The AOAC-RI method will allow for just 22 hours of turnaround time for returning Listeria results for some matrices, one of the fastest time-to-results available for the pathogen in the food safety industry today. With the method, customers can perform a single-stage, 20-26 hour enrichment (sample-dependent) in FoodChek  (TM) Actero (TM) Listeria Enrichment Media, followed by rapid real-time processing with the DuPont BAX System.

The extension includes detection of both Listeria species (AOAC-RI Performance Tested MethodSM #081401) and L. monocytogenes (AOAC-RI Performance Tested MethodSM #121402). It has been tested in frankfurters, shrimp, smoked salmon, spinach, and queso fresco. In terms of surfaces, it has been tested on stainless steel, plastic, and sealed concrete.

Recognized as one of the most advanced pathogen testing systems available to the food industry today, the DuPont BAX System enables automated testing for foodborne pathogens, spoilage organisms, and other microbes in raw ingredients, finished products, and manufacturing environments. It uses the power of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and target-specific primers to automatically detect the presence or absence of the target bacterial DNA and provide clear yes-or-no results, breaking down samples at the genetic level.

According to Morgan Wallace, DuPont Nutrition & Health senior microbiologist and validations leader for Diagnostics, “The biggest advantage of this combined testing method is the reduced enrichment time, without the need for a secondary enrichment protocol. Listeria is a slow-growing pathogen, so any steps that allow for faster detection are important to the food safety industry and help provide cost-saving benefits to customers.”

FoodChek chairman, president, and CEO William J. Hogan said, “Enriching food samples in Actero Listeria Enrichment media allows laboratories to use about 33% less media per sample than other methods. This not only results in less waste disposal during the testing process, but also helps improve the financial bottom line for food companies and commercial testing laboratories alike.”