Sample6 announced last week that it has earned a new patent for its phage-based bacterial detection assay.

The company was awarded its first patent by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for its phage engineering technology on January 10, 2016. The new patent, U.S. Patent No. 13/627,060, entitled "Recombinant Phage and Methods" contributes to Sample6's unique process for phage engineering. Phage engineering is at the core of the company's continued food safety innovations.

"As an industry, we need to set a new bar for food safety programs -- widespread illness outbreaks and massive recalls should not happen in this day and age. Contaminated food should be found and stopped before it ever enters the food chain," says Sample6 CEO Tim Curran. "We are proud that our team of brilliant scientists continues to earn recognition for driving the innovations that will set new standards for food safety programs in the years ahead."

Approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Association of Analytical Communities and plants across the country, Sample6 DETECT/L is the first in-plant, in-shift pathogen detection for Listeria. In fact, the company now helps ensure food safety at more than 30 plants in the United States and Canada, including leading ice cream, soy product and consumer packaged meats suppliers.