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Background Campylobacter is one of the leading causes of human bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide. Campylobacter infections are most often associated with the consumption of raw milk, undercooked poultry, and contaminated water. Objective The RapidChek®Campylobacter test system (PTM number 052201) was validated for the detection of Campylobacter jejuni, C. coli, and C. lari in raw ground chicken, chicken carcass rinse, and turkey carcass sponges. Methods The method uses a proprietary enrichment medium. Following aerobic enrichment, an immunochromatographic test strip is inserted into the tube containing the enrichment, developed for 20 min, and interpreted. Campylobacter-inoculated food samples were tested by the method, as well as the USDA/FSIS cultural reference method; Isolation and Identification of Campylobacter jejuni/coli/lari from Poultry Rinse, Sponge and Raw Product Samples MLG 41.04. The candidate method was also confirmed by an alternative cultural method. The RapidChek method was tested with 50 Campylobacter strains comprised of C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. lari, and 30 non-target strains. Results A total of 80 low-level spiked samples were tested by both methods in the study. The candidate method yielded 49 presumptive positives: all presumptive results were confirmed culturally. The reference method produced a total of 41 confirmed positive results. No difference between the alternate confirmation method and reference confirmation method was observed. Probability of detection analysis demonstrated no significant differences in the number of positive samples detected by the candidate method and cultural reference method. The RapidChek method detected all 50 Campylobacter strains and none of the 30 non-target strains, including Campylobacter spp. other than C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. lari. Conclusion The candidate method performed as well as the reference method in the detection of C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. lari in raw ground chicken, chicken carcass rinse, and turkey carcass sponges. Highlights Aerobic enrichment of selected matrixes for 48 h yielded reliable presumptive results for Campylobacter.

The Romer Labs RapidChek®Listeria monocytogenes test system (Performance Tested Method 011805) was validated against the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Food Safety and Inspection Service Microbiology Laboratory Guidebook (USDA-FSIS/MLG), U.S. Food and Drug Association Bacteriological Analytical Manual (FDA/BAM), and AOAC Official Methods of Analysis (AOAC/OMA) cultural reference methods for the detection of L. monocytogenes on selected foods including hot dogs, frozen cooked breaded chicken, frozen cooked shrimp, cured ham, and ice cream, and environmental surfaces including stainless steel and plastic in an unpaired study design. The RapidChek method uses a proprietary enrichment media system, a 44–48 h enrichment at 30 ± 1°C, and detects L. monocytogenes on an immunochromatographic lateral flow device within 10 min. Different L. monocytogenes strains were used to spike each of the matrixes. Samples were confirmed based on the reference method confirmations and an alternate confirmation method. A total of 140 low-level spiked samples were tested by the RapidChek method after enrichment for 44–48 h in parallel with the cultural reference method. There were 88 RapidChek presumptive positives. One of the presumptive positives was not confirmed culturally. Additionally, one of the culturally confirmed samples did not exhibit a presumptive positive. No difference between the alternate confirmation method and reference confirmation method was observed. The respective cultural reference methods (USDA-FSIS/MLG, FDA/BAM, and AOAC/OMA) produced a total of 63 confirmed positive results. Nonspiked samples from all foods were reported as negative for L. monocytogenes by all methods. Probability of detection analysis demonstrated no significant differences in the number of positive samples detected by the RapidChek method and the respective cultural reference method.

Romer Labs®, Inc. developed an immunochromatographic lateral flow assay for the qualitative detection of gluten in raw ingredients, processed foods, finished food products, and environmental surfaces, using the G12 antibody developed by Belén Morón. The G12 antibody targets a 33-mer peptide which is resistant to enzymatic digestion and heat denaturation, as well as being the fragment of the gliadin protein to which celiac disease sufferers react, making it a reliable analytical marker. This study was performed to validate the AgraStrip® Gluten G12 assay method under the guidance of the AOAC Performance Tested MethodsSM (PTM) program against AOAC Official Method of AnalysisSM2012.01 in rice flour, bread, cookie, ice cream, and chocolate matrixes spiked with either purified gliadin or wheat gluten standard at 0, 3, 8, 15, and 25 ppm concentrations and tested at the 5, 10, and 20 ppm assay thresholds, as well as on environmental surfaces. Stability, robustness, variation, and lot consistency studies were performed by spiking wheat gluten into a rice flour matrix at 0 and 15 ppm concentrations. The AgraStrip Gluten G12 assay was rigorously evaluated during this study and demonstrates its suitability as an AOAC PTM-certified gluten detection method.

The SDIX RapidChekTMListeria F.A.S.T. test system was validated against the U. S. Department of Agriculture-Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) cultural reference method for the detection of Listeria species on stainless steel, plastic, rubber, and painted concrete. The SDIX method uses a proprietary RapidChek Listeria enrichment media for a one-step, 24–40 h enrichment at 30°C, and detects Listeria on an immunochromatographic lateral flow device in 10 min. Different Listeria species were used to spike each of the environmental surfaces. Environmental surfaces were spiked at levels ranging from 50 to 400 CFU/surface (1 in.2 swabs for painted concrete, 4 in.2 for sponge). A total of 120 spiked samples were tested by the SDIX method at 24 and 40 h and the cultural reference method. Total confirmed positives were 49, 54, and 48 for the SDIX 24 h method, the SDIX 40 h method, and the USDA-FSIS cultural reference method, respectively. Nonspiked samples from all environmental surfaces were reported as negative for Listeria spp. by all methods. The overall Chi square was 0.017 (P = 0.104) and 0.611 (P = 0.566) after a 24 and 40 h enrichment, respectively, indicating that the test method was equivalent in performance to the reference method at both enrichment times. The SDIX method was evaluated for the detection of 50 Listeria and 35 non-Listeria bacterial strains. All 50 Listeria strains were detected by the method (100% sensitivity). Five out of 35 non-Listeria species gave light test signals when grown in nonselective broth culture and tested undiluted. However, when grown in the RapidChek Listeria F.A.S.T. proprietary media, only one bacterial strain (Staphylococcus aureus) was detected, giving a very low test signal (97% specificity). The method was shown to be robust toward several alterations in testing and storage conditions.

The RapidChek SELECTTMSalmonella Enteritidis Test System was validated for the detection of Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) in poultry house drag swabs, shell egg pools, and chicken carcass rinsates. The method utilizes RapidChek SELECTTMSalmonella (AOAC PTM License No. 080601) proprietary primary and secondary enrichment media. Following enrichment, an immunochromatographic test strip is inserted into the tube containing the secondary enrichment broth, developed for 10 min, and interpreted. Salmonella Enteritidis-inoculated samples (1–5 CFU SE/analytical unit) were tested by the test method as well as the appropriate cultural reference method U.S. Food and Drug Administration-Bacteriological Analytical Manual (drag swabs and egg pools) or U.S. Department of Agriculture-Food Safety and Inspection Service (chicken carcass rinsates). A total of 80 samples were tested by both methods in the study. Fifty-two samples were positive by the RapidChek SELECT Salmonella Enteritidis method and 38 were found positive by the respective reference method. The sensitivity of the method was 100% and the specificity was 100%. The accuracy of the test method was 137%, indicating that the method was more sensitive than the reference method. The RapidChek SELECT Salmonella Enteritidis method was tested with 82 Salmonella Group D1 strains including 63 Salmonella Enteritidis strains as well as 32 non-Salmonella Group D1 strains representing 10 bacteria genera. The test method detected all 82 Group D1 strains (100% sensitivity). None of the non-Salmonella Group D1 or other genera of bacteria were detected, indicating a specificity of 100%. The method was shown to be highly robust and stable under control and accelerated stability conditions.

RapidChek SELECT Salmonella was previously validated in the Performance Tested MethodsSM program for the detection of Salmonella spp. in raw ground chicken, chicken carcass rinse, sliced cooked turkey, and liquid eggs. The present matrix extension study conducted under the AOAC Research Institute Emergency Response Validation program compared the RapidChek SELECT Salmonella method to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Bacteriological Analytical Manual (FDA-BAM) method for the detection of Salmonella Typhimurium in peanut butter. Overall, 27 samples were found positive by the RapidChek SELECT Salmonella method and 27 were found to be positive by the reference method. All RapidChek SELECT Salmonella presumptive positives were confirmed positive by the cultural reference method; additionally, all presumptive negative results were confirmed negative by the cultural reference method. Accordingly 0 false-negative rate and 0 false-positive rate were found. No significant difference between the RapidCheck SELECT Salmonella and FDA-BAM reference method was found; calculated Chi-square was 0. Results indicate that a low level of Salmonella in peanut butter can be successfully recovered and detected in the minimum 24 h enrichment protocol.

RapidChek SELECT Salmonella was previously validated in the Performance Tested Methods program for the detection of Salmonella spp. in raw ground chicken, chicken carcass rinse, sliced cooked turkey, and liquid eggs. The present matrix extension study conducted under the AOAC Research Institute Emergency Response Validation program compared the RapidChek SELECT Salmonella method to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Bacteriological Analytical Manual (FDA-BAM) method for the detection of Salmonella Typhimurium in peanut butter. Overall, 27 samples were found positive by the RapidChek SELECT Salmonella method and 27 were found to be positive by the reference method. All RapidChek SELECT Salmonella presumptive positives were confirmed positive by the cultural reference method; additionally, all presumptive negative results were confirmed negative by the cultural reference method. Accordingly 0% false-negative rate and 0% false-positive rate were found. No significant difference between the RapidCheck SELECT Salmonella and FDA-BAM reference method was found; calculated Chi-square was 0. Results indicate that a low level of Salmonella in peanut butter can be successfully recovered and detected in the minimum 24 h enrichment protocol.