The DuPont™ BAX® System Real-Time PCR Assay for Genus Listeria has been certified by the AOAC Research Institute as a Performance Tested Method^℠ (PTM). This assay has been validated on frankfurters, cooked shrimp, spinach, queso fresco and environmental surfaces using reference method media as well as proprietary media for a shorter, single-stage enrichment.

The AOAC Research Institute, a subsidiary of AOAC International in Rockville, Md., validated the BAX® System method as equivalent to the reference culture method for detecting Listeria species, but with much faster time to results.  BAX® System assays for detecting E. coli O157:H7, non-O157 STEC, Campylobacter and other pathogens are already PTM-certified. In addition, AOAC International has awarded Official Method of Analysis (OMA) status to the BAX® System method for detecting for Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.

“Many customers rely on AOAC certification to ensure their selected pathogen detection method is accurate, reliable and reproducible,” said Morgan Wallace, research microbiologist and validations leader, DuPont Nutrition & Health. “We are proud to add this new real-time assay for Listeria spp. to the long list of AOAC-approved test methods from DuPont for advanced food diagnostics.”

The DuPont™ BAX® System Real-Time PCR Assay for Genus Listeria can be used as a quick and reliable method for detecting Listeria in a variety of products. This next-generation test combines shorter, simpler sample preparation and faster real-time processing, without sacrificing accuracy or reliability. Furthermore, the assay can be run in conjunction with real-time PCR assays for L. monocytogenes and Salmonella, allowing customers to receive results for all three targets in a little over an hour.

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. The automated system uses leading-edge technology, including PCR assays with tableted reagents and optimized media, to detect Salmonella, Listeria species, Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli O157:H7 and STEC, Campylobacter, Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio, and yeast and mold.  Many of these tests have been certified by AOAC and AFNOR and/or approved by government agencies in the Americas, Asia and Europe.