Neogen’s one-hour Listeria Right Now™ environmental pathogen detection system has been certified by the AOAC for use with samples on three additional surfaces.

Listeria Right Now achieved its original AOAC approval (license number #081802) in August for use with samples obtained from stainless steel and sealed concrete surfaces. The test kit has now also been certified by the AOAC for use with samples obtained from rubber, ceramic tile and plastic surfaces.

“Earning the AOAC’s certification on these additional surfaces for Listeria Right Now is important to our customers,” said Neogen’s George Nagle. “Achieving this extended AOAC certification validates its performance when testing samples obtained from surfaces commonly found in our customers’ facilities and production zones. Customers can now use this assay with confidence practically anywhere in their environment to verify proper sanitation has been completed against Listeria.”

Listeria Right Now is a complete system for performing environmental Listeria spp. tests with molecular-level accuracy that requires no enrichment, so there’s no need for processors to grow bacteria cultures on-site. The system provides results in under one hour, much faster than traditional methods, which can take up to several days. This assay is part of the fully AOAC-certified ANSR® testing system covering Salmonella, Listeria spp., Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli O157:H7 and Campylobacter.

Listeria Right Now works so quickly thanks to a technology that targets rRNA, which is present in much greater numbers than the traditional DNA target. An isothermal reaction causes the replication and amplification to occur at a constant rate instead of the normal thermal-cycle technology from traditional PCR systems. This technology allows food production and processing facilities to seek and eliminate Listeria more quickly, which can reduce the risk of cross-contamination of food products — keeping consumers safe. Listeria Right Now has now been validated by AOAC and NSF International, and is the winner of the 2018 Innovation Award from the French organization Carrefour des Fournisseurs de l’Industrie Agroalimentaire.