Seward Stomacher® 400 used in E.coli 0157 Food Safety Study

Seward highlights the recent use of the Stomacher® 400 Circulator, as part of a reference method, for the assessment of E.coli 0157 rapid testing protocols. In an extensive food safety study¹ recently published in the E.U. by the Hygiene Unit of the Department of Public Health and Infectious Disease, Sapienza University of Rome, enzyme linked fluorescent assays (ELFA) and PCR were compared with the standard culture technique applying ISO 16654:2001 for E. coli 0157 detection in raw and cooked meat samples. The Stomacher 400 Circulator was used to prepare and homogenise samples in TSB with novobiocin for all testing protocols.

The study revealed that the new rapid methods are equivalent to the original direct culture technique. The team at the Rome-based facility concluded that the speed of testing of the rapid methods over the culturing techniques will be of great benefit to the public. Several days can be saved between sampling and detection, allowing a quick response to outbreaks.

The Stomacher 400 Circulator has a proven track record of excellent organism recovery from meat samples, with reduced sample debris ensuring minimal interference with subsequent sample processes. The quality of the sample is key to the performance of all rapid methods. It is for this reason that the Stomacher 400 Circulator is the most referenced laboratory blender in comparative studies between rapid microbiological detection methods and traditional reference techniques.

Reference:
1) Detection of E. Coli 0157 in raw and cooked: comparison of conventional direct culture method and enzyme linked fluorescent assay (ELFA). Maria De Giusti, Daniela Tufi, Caterina Aurigemma, Angela Del Cimmuto, Federica Trinti, Alice Mannocci, Antonio Boccia. Hygiene Unit, Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome. Italian Journal of Public Health (2011), Vol 8, Number 1.