A new BAX® system assay from DuPont Qualicon  that uses innovative technology for rapid Listeria detection has been certified as Performance Tested^sm by the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (AOAC) Research Institute (RI) of Gaithersburg, Md.

Validation studies compared BAX® system performance to the standard culture method used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service.  AOAC-RI found that the automated BAX® system performed significantly better than the culture method for detecting Listeria on stainless steel surfaces.  Moreover, by using advanced technology called reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to jump-start the reaction, results are available just eight hours after sampling.

“When we introduced this application of RT-PCR to Listeria testing, we knew that it was exceptional in terms of speed and sensitivity,” said Kevin Huttman, president, DuPont Qualicon.  “We are very pleased to now offer the first assay of its kind that is certified by AOAC-RI.”

Food processing companies around the world rely on the BAX® system to detect pathogens or other organisms in raw ingredients, finished products and environmental samples.