The AOAC Research Institute (AOAC-RI), a subsidiary of AOAC International in Rockville, Md., has granted a method extension for the DuPont BAX System real-time PCR assays for Listeria to include validation of a new proprietary enrichment media. This method can return Listeria results in just 22 hours for some matrices, one of the fastest time-to-results available for the pathogen in the food safety industry today.

The AOAC-RI method allows customers to perform a single-stage, 20-26 hour enrichment (sample-dependent) in FoodChek Actero 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) and has been tested in frankfurters, shrimp, smoked salmon, spinach and queso fresco, as well as on stainless steel, plastic and sealed concrete surfaces.

“The biggest advantage of this combined testing method is the reduced enrichment time, without the need for a secondary enrichment protocol,” said Morgan Wallace, DuPont Nutrition & Health senior microbiologist and validations leader for Diagnostics. “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.”

“Enriching food samples in Actero Listeria Enrichment media allows laboratories to use about 33 percent less media per sample than other methods,” said FoodChek Chairman, President and CEO William J. Hogan. “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.”

The DuPont BAX System provides advanced, automated testing for foodborne pathogens, spoilage organisms and other microbes in raw ingredients, finished products and manufacturing environments. The system breaks down samples at the genetic level using the power of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), then uses target-specific primers to automatically detect the presence or absence of the target bacterial DNA and provide clear yes-or-no results. With certifications and regulatory approvals around the world, the BAX System is recognized as one of the most advanced pathogen testing systems available to the food industry today.

FoodChek Systems Inc. of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, strives to be the leading global developer and provider of proprietary rapid, accurate and cost-effective food safety testing products for contaminant detection in E. coli O157, Listeria and Salmonella throughout the human food production chain. For more information about FoodChek and its products, visit www.foodcheksystems.com.

DuPont Nutrition & Health addresses the world’s challenges in food by offering a wide range of sustainable, bio-based ingredients and advanced molecular diagnostic solutions to provide safer, healthier and more nutritious food. Through close collaboration with customers, DuPont combines knowledge and experience with a passion for innovation to deliver unparalleled customer value to the marketplace. More information is available at www.food.dupont.com.

DuPont has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit www.dupont.com.