Neogen Corporation announced that its enhanced rapid test for E. coli O157:H7 has received approval from AOAC International. Neogen’s test kit, Reveal 2.0 for E. coli O157:H7, provides the food industry a quick, accurate and easy method of detecting this pathogen without compromising sensitivity or specificity. The AOAC’s process validated the accuracy of the Reveal 2.0 for E. coli O157:H7 system when testing food samples.
“The AOAC approval further validates our test as an invaluable tool to food producers,” said Neogen’s Ed Bradley. “The system cuts the wait time for results and eliminates the potential for cross-reactivity with E. coli O157 non-H7 or common cross-reactors like Citrobacter.” The Reveal 2.0 for E. coli O157:H7 system provides results in 12 to 20 hours, with only 15 minutes of test development time. The system uses Neogen’s new proprietary media which is specifically balanced for use with this end point test.
In the AOAC study, Reveal 2.0 for E. coli O157:H7 was found to be an effective procedure for the detection of E. coli O157:H7 in 65 and 375 gram samples of raw ground beef and beef trim. The testing system utilizes a new antibody sourced from the USDA and incorporates USDA-specified sample sizes with reduced media volumes for more manageable samples. Also, the test does not require a heat kill step, which reduces the time to results and sample touch time.
The foodborne illness caused by E. coli O157:H7 is generally due to eating raw, incompletely cooked, or cross- contaminated foods. Neogen’s comprehensive line of products it offers to the food industry also includes a full line of agricultural cleaners and disinfectants, and rodenticides to stop the spread of infectious disease from animal to animal and from production facilities to the consumer. In December, Neogen’s enhanced rapid test for Salmonella, Reveal 2.0 for Salmonella, received approval from AOAC International.