New Listeria Monocytogenes Testing System
WASHINGTON - May 1/02 - SNS -- A new system which should shorten the time to get results and reduce the number of false positive returns when testing meat and poultry for the presence of Listeria monocytogenes has been adopted by the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service.
After an evaluation, FSIS determined that the BAX® system was as sensitive as the current method in detecting Listeria monocytogenes. With BAX®, fewer samples were falsely screened as positive. Data also showed that the system reduced the reporting time for negative samples by one day when compared to the current method.
"This is a good example of how FSIS is using new technology to improve efficiency," said Bill Hudnall, acting FSIS administrator. "FSIS can reduce the time that it takes to notify meat and poultry producers of a negative result, and fewer false positives will help to reduce agency resources used to confirm positive screen tests."
The BAX® system was evaluated at the FSIS Microbial Outbreaks and Special Projects Branch (MOSPB) laboratory in Athens, Georgia., to determine whether it would be beneficial to the agency. Testing methods used by FSIS laboratories undergo rigorous evaluations to determine their validity and reliability.
After the MOSPB evaluation, the Eastern field service laboratory in Athens, Georgia., screened approximately 830 random samples for Listeria monocytogenes using both the BAX® and the Fraser broth method. Each sample was put through the Fraser broth screening analysis, and a portion of the enrichment broth was used to conduct the BAX® test. The official confirmation analysis method was used to confirm the results of both types of screen tests.
FSIS will implement the BAX® system to screen meat and poultry samples for Listeria monocytogenes in the agency's three field service laboratories, located in Athens, Georgia., St. Louis, Missouri. and Alameda, California., and in the MOSPB laboratory.
FSIS is planning to evaluate the BAX® system to screen samples for E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella in the next few months.
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