Food-pathogen detectionNew food-pathogen detection system
A new food pathogen detection system is based on a combination of technologies involving isothermal DNA amplification and bioluminescence detection
3M is offering a new pathogen detection system. The company says its 3M Molecular Detection System detects pathogens like Salmonella, E. coli O157, and Listeria. The new system is based on a combination of technologies involving isothermal DNA amplification and bioluminescence detection.
“Leveraging 3M’s record of innovation, including close collaboration with our customers, we believe we’ve found a transformational solution that makes for a faster and simpler way of accurately detecting pathogens,” said Francine Savage, vice president and general manager, 3M Food Safety. “Just as 3M Petrifilm Plates succeeded by melding sophistication with simplicity, the 3M Molecular Detection System optimizes technicians’ time and productivity, improving bottom lines, protecting brands and ensuring public health.”
Sensitive, uncompromised results in a compact unit
The 3M Molecular Detection System targets and amplifies nucleic acid in enriched samples. The automated technology has been evaluated with a variety of food types, including produce, meats, processed foods, pet food, and food processing-related environmental samples.
“Pathogen testing has now been made simple and affordable,” said Niki Montgomery, 3M Food Safety global marketing development manager. “Food processors will benefit greatly from the system’s affordable accuracy and fast time to results, minimizing downtime in the lab. Numerous organisms can be tested in a single run and it was designed to help our customers perform fewer repeat tests and make critical decisions
faster.”
The company notes that as part of the 3M Molecular Detection System platform, individual, pathogen-specific assays, or procedural tests, will be sold as a test kits. Each assay test kit uses the same software interface and same DNA extraction protocol for testing between one and ninety-six samples per run. Assays for Salmonella, E. coli O157 (including H7), and Listeria are available now; a test for Listeria monocytogenes is expected in early 2012.
“In our evaluation of the Listeria species assay, we liked the small footprint of the system as well as the quick delivery of results after sample enrichment,” said Dr. Martin Wiedmann, a professor in Cornell University’s Department of Food Science who studied the system’s analyses of samples taken from meat-packing, seafood processing and retail locations. “This system definitely illustrates the potential of isothermal methods for rapid detection of foodborne pathogens.”
