SelectScience
Join Free
Accelerating Science
NewsLife Sciences

New Rapid E. coli Test to Assist Food Safety

Thermo Fisher Scientific
2 Aug 2010
Sarah Sarah
Marketing / Sales

Product news

A new E. coli test from Life Technologies uses real-time PCR technology to detect Escherichia coli rapidly. Life Technologies has also secured Performance Tested MethodsSM certification from the AOAC Research Institute for detection of E. coli O157:H7.

E. coli O157:H7 can cause severe illness, even death and has been responsible for significant outbreaks of food poisoning across the globe. Culture-based assays, long considered the gold standard for pathogen detection, can take up to five days to yield results. The MicroSEQ E. coli O157:H7 detection assay is highly specific and sensitive and can be run in as little as eight hours.

“Food companies and food testing organizations are seeking validated tools to help safeguard the public from organisms such as E. coli O157:H7,” said Dr. Sharon Brunelle, technical consultant, AOAC Research Institute. “Life Technologies has demonstrated that the MicroSEQ E. coli O157:H7 Detection Kit performs as well or better than the ISO and USDA reference methods for a variety of foods, earning Performance Tested Methods certification from the AOAC Research Institute.”

The AOAC Research Institute focuses on the development, use, and harmonization of validated analytical methods and its validation is important for food safety. The certification of the MicroSEQ E. coli O157:H7 detection assay means that the assay meets the stringent pathogen detection requirements of many companies and testing organizations responsible for safeguarding food supplies.

“Food contamination is a serious issue, one that can unfortunately have life-threatening repercussions,” said Brian Kim, general manager responsible for food protection solutions at Life Technologies. “With the introduction of the MicroSEQ E. coli O157:H7 assay, Life Technologies is adding to the arsenal of tools available to authorities to help ensure a safe and reliable global food supply.”

The assay is part of a growing portfolio of MicroSEQ kits designed to detect pathogens that contaminate the food supply, including the MicroSEQ Salmonella spp. Detection Kit, the MicroSEQ Listeria monocytogenes Detection Kit and the MicroSEQ Listeria spp Detection Kit.

Links

Thermo Fisher ScientificCompany website

Tags

Cell / Tissue CultureCell culture or tissue culture is used to study the biology of cells or tissues and to isolate cellular products in an environment which can be manipulated and well defined. Accurately control your culture environment with bioreactors or culture incubators, bind your cells to a surface or together with an extracellular matrix. Distinguish cell types with differential media or proliferate cells with certain characteristics using selective media. Enrich your media with supplements such as growth factors, sera and vitamins. Find the best cell and tissue culture products, kits and equipment in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.PCR and Thermal CyclingPolymerase chain reaction (PCR) kits and thermal cyclers are used for the in vitro amplification of DNA permitting subsequent analysis and experimental procedures. Explore a range of high-quality polymerase, primers and nucleotides or simplify your workflow with a PCR mastermix. Find reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and cDNA synthesis kits for RNA products and libraries. Quantitatively measure the amplification of DNA with real-time PCR (qPCR) and droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) kits and systems, and discover automated PCR setup solutions to increase throughput. Alternative DNA amplification methods also include recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) kits. Find the best PCR kits and thermal cyclers and purification equipment in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.MicrobiologyMicrobiology is the study of microorganisms including protists, prokaryotes, fungi, and, often, viruses. Microorganisms are a useful research tool as genetic vectors and, in immunology, for antibiotic susceptibility testing, cellular biology and genetics. Microorganisms commonly grow readily in incubators with microbial culture media; this can contain chromogenic supplements to differentiate between cell lines. Estimate your culture’s density of microorganisms with colony counters, or screen and select colonies for desirable clones with automated colony pickers. Additionally, equipment is available to monitor environments for the presence of microbes and identify with microbial identification instruments. Find the best microbiology products in our peer-reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receive pricing direct from manufacturers.Cell-Based AssaysCell-based assays are used to monitor the presence, quantity and activities of a desired cellular analyte including drug molecules or biomarkers. This can reveal information on cell health (apoptosis, cytotoxicity, viability and proliferation assays), cell metabolism, cell migration and cell signaling mechanisms. Find the best cell-based assay products, kits and equipment with our peer reviewed product directory: compare products, check customer reviews and receiving pricing direct from manufacturers.Escherichia coliFood SafetyFood safety describes the prevention of food-borne illnesses. Contamination with a variety of pathogens can be prevented with adequate temperature control, hygiene and labeling. Food samples can be tested using GC/MS, HPLC, SPE, and qPCR to ensure their adherence to regulations.

Related articles