Pall Corporation announced that its GeneDisc® assays for Listeria have received Performance Tested Methods (PTM) Certification from the AOAC Research Institute, one of the world's leading standards organizations. The certification means food companies now have an independently validated, extremely fast and easy-to-use food-borne pathogen detection option to help ensure the safety of their products.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports around 1,600 U.S. cases of Listeriosis annually. Caused by Listeria monocytogenes, a widely spread bacterial foodborne pathogen, Listeriosis can cause severe illness and even death. Symptoms can include upset stomach and flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, nausea, and vomiting. U.S. regulatory agencies have a "zero tolerance" policy for Listeria monocytogenes contamination of ready-to-eat food products, requesting recall of such products at any detectable level of Listeria monocytogenes.
Pall's Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-based GeneDisc technology allows multiparametric assays for food-borne pathogen detection. The system and test procedure yields consistently repeatable results and virtually eliminates operator error. A unique real time PCR test, the GeneDisc Listeria identification plate allows food safety laboratories, for the first time, to have Listeria species identification within one hour. Routine biochemical tests typically take 24 hours.
"This Listeria species identification assay enables the food industry to access highly specific and extremely rapid methods for their quality control tasks," stated Jonathan Pratt, President Pall Food and Beverage.
During this independent third-party validation, Pall GeneDisc assays, for Listeria spp and Listeria monocytogenes, as well as the combined assay, Listeria DUO, received AOAC-PTM certification for a variety of foods and environmental surfaces.
"These Listeria certifications represent a major step forward for our food industry partners who can enhance their routine testing for food-borne pathogens," added Jonathan Pratt. "Consider the recent Listeria cantaloupe recall in late 2011. Noted as one of the deadliest U.S. outbreaks of food-related illness in over 10 years, it claimed the lives of 30 people and caused illness in over 100 others. There is a clear need for fast and reliable assays in food-borne pathogen monitoring. Pall continues to work hard to deliver on these expectations."
Pall Food and Beverage is the global leader in filtration, separation and quality assurance solutions for the food and beverage market. It serves the needs of the beer, wine, spirits, dairy, soft drink, bottled water, enzymes, food ingredients and associated industries. Pall's solutions help to ensure product quality and protect consumers while lowering operating costs and minimizing waste.