Neogen’s test to detect Listeria monocytogenes receives approval of AOAC Research Institute

US-based Neogen Corporation, developer of products dedicated to food and animal safety, has been given an approval for its test helping to detect listeria monocytogenes DNA in food and environmental samples.

Neogen received the approval for the ANSR for listeria monocytogenes (Performance Tested MethodSM certification, No. 061506) from the AOAC Research Institute.

The isothermal amplification reaction test is capable of detecting listeria monocytogenes following ten minute post-sample processing.

The scope of the approval covers the use of the test in hot dogs, Mexican-style cheese, cantaloupes, guacamole, pasteurised liquid eggs, sprout irrigation water, and sponge samples from stainless steel surfaces.

Listeria that can be found in ready-to-eat deli meats, hot dogs, refrigerated pâtés or meat spreads, unpasteurised (raw) milk and dairy products, soft cheese made with unpasteurised milk, such as queso fresco, feta, brie, camembert, refrigerated smoked seafood, and raw sprouts, and can lead to symptoms including fever, stiff neck, confusion, weakness, and vomiting that is sometimes preceded by diarrhea.

Neogen food safety vice-president Ed Bradley said: "The AOAC approval further validates our test as an invaluable tool to food producers. ANSR is the fastest DNA-definitive pathogen assay available, with results in only 10 minutes.

"Compared to the three hours other methods such as polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, take to produce DNA-level results, that’s a huge difference in a laboratory’s workflow, and the operations of a food producer as a whole."

This new pathogen detection method is capable of providing definitive results in around 17 hours for environmental samples, from the time the sample is taken.