Roka Bioscience, Inc., have announced the results of a study demonstrating a limits-based testing application to accurately detect 1 colony forming unit per gram (CFU/g) contamination levels of Salmonella in 375-g ground turkey samples within one working shift.

The limits-based testing approach provides an additional tool for monitoring process control and intervening to reduce risk associated with high Salmonella loads entering the marketplace. The limits-based pathogen testing approach for detection of Salmonella enterica in ground poultry will be presented in a poster session at the International Association for Food Protection annual meeting on Sunday, July 26, 2015 in Portland, Oregon.

"The limits-based testing approach is a new application for Roka's high performing Salmonella detection technology. Our industry partners need innovative tools to help monitor and understand Salmonella loads in the production system in a timely manner.  This semi-quantitative tool may be utilized to monitor process control in addition to routine prevalence-based testing procedures," said W. Evan Chaney, Ph.D., author of the study and Sr. Manager of Scientific Affairs at Roka Bioscience. "The ability to differentiate product with higher initial levels of Salmonella via this limits-based application can help stakeholders make more informed food safety-based decisions."

In the three-phase study, "Development of a Limits-Based Pathogen Test Application for Detecting Specified Concentrations of Salmonella enterica in Ground Poultry", researchers concluded that the sampling parameters established for the limits-based testing application could detect raw ground turkey product samples with an initial Salmonella load of 1 CFU/g within one production shift.

"Salmonella limits testing approach gave Cargill a tool to measure process control and to manage products posing the greatest risk to public health," said Melody Thompson MPH, Corporate FSQR Superintendent, Cargill, Inc. link to their video?