BAX System 8-Hour Assay for Detecting Listeria Certified by AOAC-RI

WILMINGTON, Del. — A new BAX system assay from DuPont Qualicon that uses innovative technology for rapid Listeria detection has been certified as Performance Tested Method No. 030801 by the AOAC Research Institute (RI) of Gaithersburg, Md.

Validation studies compared BAX system performance to the standard culture method used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service. AOAC-RI found that the automated BAX system performed significantly better than the culture method for detecting Listeria on stainless steel surfaces. Moreover, by using advanced technology called reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to jump-start the reaction, results are available just eight hours after sampling.

“When we introduced this application of RT-PCR to Listeria testing, we knew that it was exceptional in terms of speed and sensitivity,” said Kevin Huttman, president, DuPont Qualicon. “We are very pleased to now offer the first assay of its kind that is certified by AOAC-RI.”

The BAX system uses leading-edge technology, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays, tableted reagents and optimized media, to also detect Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli O157:H7, Enterobacter sakazakii, Campylobacter and Staphylococcus aureus. The automated system is certified and has regulatory approvals in the Americas, Asia and Europe.