BioMérieux has been granted AOAC Research Institute approval for its TEMPO® BC, an automated quality indicator test for the fast enumeration of Bacillus cereus group bacteria in food products. AOAC third-party validation provides food professionals with added assurance for high-performance testing standards.

According to the company, TEMPO BC provides automated results in 22 to 27 hours, which enables food manufacturers to release their products into the supply chain much earlier than when testing with traditional methods.

Bacillus cereus is a Gram positive, aerobic spore-forming bacterium which, when present in foods that are improperly stored, can cause food poisoning.

"bioMérieux is committed to developing high-performing testing solutions to help manufacturers ensure food quality and safety worldwide," said Nicolas Cartier, corporate vice president, industry division. "The importance of using third-party validation programs such as AOAC is a key component of the company’s global development."

TEMPO BC has been validated by the AOAC Research Institute following the Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM) method for the enumeration of Bacillus cereus in food products.

Through automation, TEMPO takes the traditional, labor-intensive most-probable-number (MPN) method and standardizes numerous analytical steps, improving the laboratory workflow. In addition to Bacillus cereus, the TEMPO product line automates testing for total aerobic counts, coliforms, Enterobacteriaceae, Staphylococcus aureus, generic E. coli, lactic acid bacteria and yeasts/molds. For more information, visit www.biomerieux-industry.com.