MicroVal validation of iQ‐Check STEC VirX Kit for the real‐time PCR detection of virulence genes in Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia coli (STEC) has recently been updated to include flour & raw dough (up to 375 test portion) as part of the scope, in addition to raw meat products (375 g ‐ excluding poultry) and raw dairy products (25 g), according to ISO16140‐2:2016.

MicroVal is an international certification organization for the validation and approval of alternative methods for the microbiological analysis of food and beverages. The technical protocol and result interpretation for this study were carried out according to the ISO-16140-2:2016 and MicroVal technical rules.

The validation study demonstrated excellent results and excellent sensitivity with the iQ-Check STEC VirX method compared to the reference method ISO/TS 13136. The kit was evaluated on parameters such as sensitivity, relative level of detection, inclusivity and exclusivity. In addition, Bio-Rad’s iQ-Check Free DNA Removal Solution was validated as part of the workflow to remove free/dead cell DNA from the samples before PCR testing.

The iQ-Check STEC VirX Kit is recognized by renowned international validation organizations, such as AOAC INTERNATIONAL, and is the screening step for the United States Department of Agriculture Microbiology Laboratory Guidebook (USDA MLG) reference method Chapter 5C.02.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) can be highly pathogenic to humans, potentially leading to hemorrhagic colitis, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and death. The iQ-Check STEC VirX Kit is a complete, flexible, and open solution, enabling industrial microbiology laboratories to control and adjust their quality assurance procedures more effectively. The certificate (2021LR96) is available on the MicroVal website.

For more information on Bio-Rad’s complete range of iQ-Check Real-Time PCR Test Kits, please visit: bio-rad.com/iqcheck or use the Request Information button below to contact the supplier.