Hygiena has announced that the new quantification application (SalQuant™) of the BAX® System Real-Time (RT) PCR Assay for Salmonella has now received AOAC-RI Performance Tested Method^SM approval (certification #081201, an extension of the original BAX RT Salmonella PCR Assay). In addition to knowing if Salmonella is present, this test can now accurately quantify Salmonella levels from each sample when used with the BAX System Q7.

For the first time ever, there is a rapid method that can provide quantitative data on contamination levels by performing RT-PCR on comminuted chicken and turkey collected from a food production facility. After only 8 hours of enrichment, samples are analyzed using the BAX System RT PCR Assay for Salmonella on the BAX System Q7 instrument. The resulting cycle threshold (CT) values for positive samples is utilized to quantify the number of colony-forming units (CFUs) present in the sample. No additional kits or components are required, only the BAX System RT PCR Assay for Salmonella (KIT2012).

This allows the collection of quantitative, numeric data on contamination levels that is location- or matrix-specific, more accurate and precise, and less laborious than MPN. By combining the power of real-time PCR, the BAX System RT Assay for Salmonella, and available protocols for multiple sampling locations throughout poultry production, processors can now quantify Salmonella from the farm to final product to improve and verify sanitation and antimicrobial intervention processes, to meet more stringent regulatory and quality standards, and protect consumers by knowing the risk a positive sample could pose. Processors can more quickly and confidently respond to increasing Salmonella contamination issues, allowing them to better focus their sanitation and antimicrobial interventions to root causes, saving money that otherwise would be used for wider interventions.

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