HERCULES, Calif. - Bio-Rad Laboratories announced that the United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA FSIS) has issued a Letter of No Objection for the company's iQ-Check real-time PCR method for the detection of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) bacteria in beef.
To substantiate the claims of the No Objection Letter, validation data were generated that demonstrated the equivalency of the Bio-Rad STEC method to the USDA MLG 5B.02 reference method in beef that was artificially inoculated with low levels of STEC bacteria as well as E. coli O157:H7. As part of the submission to USDA FSIS, sensitivity and specificity evaluations were performed by the USDA Agricultural Research Service (USDA ARS) Eastern Regional Research Center in Wyndmoor, Pa.
“USDA ARS continually looks for opportunities to collaborate in ways that will expedite research to assist regulatory agencies and move technologies into the marketplace,” said Dr. Pina Fratamico, research leader with USDA ARS.
“The Bio-Rad STEC method was designed to be compatible with the USDA method,” said Brad Crutchfield, president of Bio-Rad’s Life Science Group. “We strive to provide fast, reliable, and easy-to-use solutions that enhance our customers’ food safety programs and allow them to feel confident in their decisions regarding food safety.”
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