Government of Karnataka Funds Biotech Firm to Set-up a Centre for Rapid Microbiology

The department of IT and BT of the Government of Karnataka, to promote biotechnology sector in the state, has decided to establish finishing schools across the state. Probiosys, the first biotech company to start a finishing school in India will receive assistance from the Karnataka State Government up to 25 per cent of the cost of equipment and instruments. The Institute was chosen for the grant by a committee chaired by former IISc Director, Prof G Padmanabhan. As per the guidelines issued by the Government, the courses need to be conducted over a duration of one year, which includes six months of course work and six months of internship. The Institutes will initially be allowed to procure equipment and other gadgets relevant to the course. Thereafter the selection committee will scrutinise the procurement details and inspect the Institutes for release of funds.

The finishing schools will be monitored by the Association of Biotechnology Led Enterprises (ABLE) and will need to be accredited by a university. Some of the subjects that the finishing schools will train students in, include bio-processing, bio-informatics, bio-sensors and cellular and molecular diagnostics. Sourabh Mathur, Business Head, Probiosys said, “Probiosys helps professionals to learn, acquire and implement. Rapid Microbiology is an emerging technology and will take some time for Indian companies to adopt it. Within the next 10 years it is going to change people’s perception to microbiology.”

This was announced at the first rapid microbiology summit, Bangalore. Probiosys which is a division of Automed Systems conducted the summit in association with AES Chemunex on 9th February 2011. The summit was a huge success and had nearly 75 attendees.

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Pall GeneDisc® System First AOAC Validated Test For Non-O157 STEC In Food

Pall Corporation
25 Harbor Park Drive
Port Washington, New York 11050
toll free phone: 1-800-521-1520
fax: 516-801-9754
email: genedisc@pall.com
website: http://www.pall.com/biopharm_53215.asp

Pall Corporation announced today that its GeneDisc Rapid Microbiology system has been validated by the AOAC Research Institute for detection of non-O157 STEC in meat. This validation from one of the world's leading standards organizations is expected to enable more effective monitoring of the food supply for pathogenic E. coli contamination, a common cause of foodborne illness.

Recent legislation directs the Food & Drug Administration to build a new system for food oversight focused on applying the best available science to prevent consumer illness. This technology from Pall provides the meat industry a new tool to help ensure the safety of its products.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates at least 70,000 Americans are sickened as a direct result of E. coli infection and its complications annually. A recent study reports over $3.4B is spent annually on food safety testing.

Pall's product is the first to receive AOAC's multiparametric validation of a detection method for four serogroups of the most common non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) in ground beef and beef trim. The Pall GeneDisc Rapid Microbiology system enables producers to test simultaneously for the pathogenic E. coli O157 and four of the top six non-O157 STEC (O26, O103, O111, O145) that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) identifies as key targets in its new laboratory guidance (MLG 5B.00).

Sharon Brunelle, technical consultant for AOAC Research Institute, stated: "This is the first time that AOAC-RI has validated a method for the detection and identification of several of the major STEC serogroups and shows again the responsiveness of AOAC-RI in the face of rapidly evolving food safety issues."

"Meat processors now have an independently validated, extremely easy-to-use and fast test method to better ensure that their raw materials and final products are microbiologically safe, and ready for market," said Jonathan Pratt, President, Pall Food and Beverage.

The Pall GeneDisc system is based on real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technology. The system features an exceptionally robust PCR platform utilizing ready-to-use consumables. The system and test procedure yields consistently repeatable results and virtually eliminates operator error. It provides data on the presence or absence of multiple pathogens in as little as 3 hours, as opposed to the days required by traditional methods. It is an ideal solution for food manufacturers who need fast and specific detection of potential health risks with the least amount of false positives.

Whether Pall GeneDisc batch release tests are performed in-house or at partner service labs, rapid results are available prior to product release, helping manufacturers avoid recalls and improving their compliance with new USDA standards outlined in the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act.

Pall Corporation also announced that it completed the AOAC-PTM validation of its Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 methods simultaneously with the non-O157 STEC method.

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MIT's First Production Rapid Microbial Identification Systems Manufactured by OSI Optoelectronics Passes Rigorous Testing

Micro Identification Technologies, Inc. previously announced on January 4, 2011 that it had received the first production MIT 1000 System from OSI Optoelectronics (OSIO), a subsidiary of OSI Systems. MIT now announces that after rigorous evaluation and performance testing in its laboratories, the System passed all tests and is now ready for volume production.

MIT contracted with OSIO in 2010 to manufacture MIT's Rapid Microbial Identification System, the MIT 1000. OSIO has manufacturing facilities in California, Malaysia and India. "All of OSIO's world class facilities are ISO 9001:2000 certified, FDA registered and GMP compliant making them a perfect company to fabricate MIT's Systems for its food safety applications and its planned pharmaceutical and clinical diagnostic applications," stated Michael Brennan, MIT's Chairman.

The MIT 1000 Rapid Microbial Identification System can identify bacteria in less than five minutes after culturing and at a cost of less than 10 cents per test. The MIT 1000 is a certified AOAC Research Institute (RI) test method for Listeria, one of three bacteria (the others are Salmonella and E.coli) that are responsible for most of the worldwide food contamination events. The AOAC Research Institute reviewed the MIT 1000 System's user software, bacteria identification test procedures, system user documentation, and after a lengthy independent test cycle, certified the MIT 1000 System for Listeria identification and accuracy, and system ruggedness.

MIT is in the process of preparing for Identification and Accuracy Certifications for E.coli and Salmonella. When ready, the Certification testing is expected not to exceed two months.

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