Salmonella test used with the Warnex Rapid Pathogen Detection System has been approved by the US Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP)
The objective of the US National Poultry Improvement Plan is to provide a cooperative industry-state-federal programme through which new technology can be effectively applied to the improvement of poultry and poultry products.
The plan consists of a variety of programmes intended to prevent and control poultry diseases.
The Warnex salmonella test for environmental samples was independently validated by NPIP-approved laboratories, which concluded that the Warnex test performed as well as or better than the two NPIP-approved microbiological reference methods.
In addition, the test performed just as well with pooled samples, which can increase a plant's testing efficiency and significantly reduce testing costs.
"Our new sample pooling feature clearly illustrates our commitment to innovation aimed at improving our clients' efficiency," said Mark Busgang, president and CEO of Warnex.
"This, in addition to NPIP approval which provides further regulatory and scientific validation of our tests, will help reduce the barrier to entry for major poultry clients and encourage adoption".
The Warnex Rapid Pathogen Detection System offers a versatile detection and quantification platform, using real-time PCR technology combined with proprietary genetic markers and software, to rapidly and accurately determine the presence of pathogens in a sample.
The system allows for the simultaneous detection of multiple pathogens and processing of samples within three to 48 hours, a significant improvement over traditional microbiology tests that require five to seven days.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 1.4 million cases and 500 deaths occur in the United States annually due to salmonella infections.
Salmonellosis, an infection caused by eating food contaminated with salmonella, causes symptoms such as diarrhea, fever, vomiting and abdominal cramps, lasting usually four to seven days.
In some cases, it may cause blood infection and even death, if untreated.
