The molecular flow-based tests are suited for food producers, processors, distributors, retailers, and government health agencies. The patent marks the third that the company has received for tests to help food processing firms detect foodborne pathogens.
Low-cost testing
The tests reportedly offer sensitive testing comparable to that of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) but without the associated drawbacks. They also, according to the company, offer lower cost, better reliability, increased ease of use and faster results than similar, competitive tests.
The company’s testing technology has attained approval from the Association of Analytical Communities International (AOAC). Once approved by the AOAC, testing is accepted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, and global testing agencies.
Certified results
The first certification by the AOAC for this novel class of diagnostics came last October, when the AOAC certified Veriflow Campylobacter (Veriflow CA) to detect Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in poultry. In May 2013 the AOAC certified Veriflow Listeria monocytogenes (Veriflow LM) for the detection of L. monocytogenes from a variety of environmental and food matrices.
The company is working on obtaining AOAC certification for other testing products. Currently in the AOAC review process for certification are additional Veriflow assays to detect pan-Listeria species and pan-Salmonella species. Veriflow assays for the detection of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are also slated for AOAC submission this year.