A comprehensive study by the independent standards-setting organization NSF International has demonstrated equivalencies between Neogen's rapid Soleris™ microbial test protocols and traditional USP plate-counting methods when testing dietary supplements for bacterial contamination.

The demonstrated equivalency has led to the recent inclusion of the Soleris test method in the revised (August 2006) NSF International Standard/American National Standard for Dietary Supplements. In the Standard, which was recently approved by the American National Standards Institute, Soleris test protocols are indicated for use when testing dietary supplements for yeast and mold, total aerobic count (Soleris’ total viable count assay), and Enterobacteriaceae.

Neogen’s Soleris technology is now used by approximately 200 of the world’s largest food and nutraceutical manufacturers to detect indicator microbes in a fraction of the time needed for traditional methods. They provide unrivalled labor and sample handling efficiency, and easy and intuitive indicator microbe detection and enumeration.

The Soleris system features the quickest automated quality indicator system protocols, including:

• Yeast and mold in 60-72 hours; conventional methods take 5 days
  
• Total viable count (TVC) in as little as 6-8 hours; conventional methods take 24-48 hours
  
• Coliforms in 9-10 hours; conventional methods take 24 hours
  
• E. coli in 7-10 hours; conventional methods take 24 hours
  
• Lactic bacteria in 30-35 hours; conventional methods take 3-5 days
  

The Soleris system is a rapid optical method for the detection of microbial contamination based on an innovative application of classic microbiology. The optical assay measures microbial growth by monitoring pH and other biochemical reactions that generate a color change as microorganisms grow and metabolize.