Thermo Fisher Salmonella test earns OMA status

Thermo Fisher Scientific has announced that the Thermo Scientific SureTect Salmonella Species PCR Assay has been granted AOAC Official Method Analysis (OMA) status. The method was validated against the FDA-BAM, USDA-FSIS and ISO reference methods, giving food laboratories the world over confidence in the robustness of the assay and the accuracy of its results.

The AOAC-OMA claim for the SureTect Salmonella Species Assay covers 32 matrices – currently one of the broadest range of foods and selected environmental surfaces covered for an AOAC-OMA validated Salmonella test. This includes challenging to test high-risk products from a broad range of foods and production environments, such as cocoa products and other low moisture foods, raw meats and poultry meats, fruits and vegetables, milk and dairy products and ready-to-eat foods. The SureTect Salmonella Species PCR Assay is the first to offer a validated method for Salmonella testing in large samples for multiple matrix types such as raw beef meats, produce, cocoa and chocolate.

In the AOAC study, 32 matrices were tested using the SureTect Salmonella Species PCR Assay (candidate method) and the FDA/BAM , USDA/FSIS and ISO reference methods. These included 11 foods not previously tested as part of the original AOAC-Performance Tested Methods (PTM) program. These were selected after an audit of currently available methods highlighted a requirement for tools that enabled larger sample size testing and the addition of some of the more challenging and higher-risk products.

The new matrices include 25 g samples of cut cabbage, cut mango, Cheddar cheese, Feta cheese, and cream, as well as up to 375 g ground beef, beef trim, spinach, cocoa powder, cocoa butter, cocoa liquor and dark chocolate.

The study found no issues in terms of inhibition or false positive/negative data, confirming the robustness of the method.

Daniele Sohier, senior manager, global scientific affairs, at Thermo Fisher, said, “We worked with our food laboratory customers to identify gaps in the existing landscape of validated matrices. These gaps were addressed in our extended pre-collaborative study, during which 32 matrices, 11 of which were new for the SureTect Salmonella Assay, were tested against the FDA, UDSA and ISO reference methods. With such a broad range of matrices, our partners can have confidence that the SureTect Salmonella Assay method is validated, robust and reproducible in almost any area of food manufacturing and processing.”

For more information on the SureTect Salmonella Species PCR Assay visit www.thermofisher.com/suretect.


Source: www.foodincanada.com

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