Biomerieux has enhanced its Vidas line for food pathogen testing with the launch of a rapid and automated test for the screening of Listeria monocytogenes in food and environmental samples.
The test is said to provide a simple sample preparation, with minimal manipulations, resulting in an optimised laboratory workflow.
Vidas Listeria monocytogenes Xpress (Vidas LMX) is claimed to deliver results in 28 hours; traditional methods can take up to three days.
Listeria monocytogenes is largely categorised as a zero tolerance organism, requiring food manufacturers and processors to maintain a production and quality control process that ensures their manufacturing environments and final products are free from any Listeria monocytogenes organisms.
Listeria monocytogenes is a highly pathogenic bacterium for humans, causing illnesses including meningitis, septicaemia and encephalitis.
Groups at risk include pregnant women, neonates, immunocompromised and elderly people.
Vidas LMX, as part of the Vidas range, provides the agri-food industry with a consistent, standardised testing platform for screening critical pathogens.
Its easy-to-use testing platform, coupled with rapid result availability, frees laboratory resources to focus on more value-added activities, such as Hazard and Critical Control Point (HACCP) management.
Pathogen testing is of major importance in establishing a HACCP programme and is key to minimising and preventing product contamination by pathogenic organisms.
This recent innovation is based on highly specific antibody fragments, which provide a high level of specificity and sensitivity for Listeria monocytogenes strains.
