DuPont Nutrition & Health has received certification for its recently released BAX® System test for E. coli O157:H7 in food. The AOAC Research Institute has validated this real-time PCR assay, developed in collaboration with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, as a Performance Tested Method^SM for detecting the pathogen in spinach, lettuce, raw ground beef and beef trim with same-day results.

The AOAC Research Institute, a subsidiary of AOAC International in Gaithersberg, Md., provides rigorous evaluation and review of analytical methods before awarding its widely recognized Performance Tested Method^SM certification mark.

'Fast, accurate results are critical when testing perishable products for pathogens,' said Luiz Fischmann, global marketing manager -- DuPont Nutrition & Health. 'This assay was developed to detect all known E. coli O157:H7, even atypical strains, within hours instead of days. Now meat and produce processors that require a certified method for quality control can benefit from BAX® System speed, accuracy and ease of use.'

For more information on the BAX® E.coli O157 assay visit www.qualicon.com