3M Listeria Assay Gains Certification

ST. PAUL, Minn.3M Food Safety received AOAC-PTM Certification for the 3M Molecular Detection Assay Listeria for Environmental Testing from the AOAC Research Institutes Performance Tested Methods^SM Program.

The validation confirms the assays ability to monitor current food-processing facilities and follows earlier validations of assays for Salmonella and E. coli O157. The assay also can be used for the testing of food matrices, including produce, meat, seafood, poultry and dairy. Use of the assay for the evaluation of food, is in process as a matrix extension to this current AOAC-PTM.

The 3M Molecular Detection System is a fundamentally different pathogen detection method that uses two unique, innovative technologiesisothermal DNA amplification and bioluminescence detection.

Clients value the thorough process used to validate the assays for Salmonella, E. coli O157 (including H7) and Listeria," said Niki Montgomery, global marketing manager with 3M Food Safety. Recent outbreaks and recalls due to possible Listeria contamination further highlight the importance of using an AOAC-PTM certified method to detect foodborne pathogens."

Just this month, the CDC confirmed three people have died and 14 have been hospitalized from a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes linked to Frescolina brand ricotta salata cheese distributed by Forever Cheese, Inc.