USDA approves E-coli SDIX system
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved of a SDIX system that will be used for the confirmation of E.coli.
The RapidChek CONFIRM non-0157 STEC Immunomagnetic Separation (IMS) kit is a set of immunomagnetic beads used in the confirmation of potential samples and is also listed in the USDA Microbiological Laboratory Guidebook 5B.02 as the IMS reagents used in E.coli testing.
A spokesperson from SDIX said: “For example, if a sample tests positive for the stx/eae genes then for then big six O-type genes by a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) method such as DuPont’s, the sample can be confirmed using the RapidChek CONFIRM IMS beads to isolate the O-type which is streaked onto selective agar plates for isolation of a single colony”.
The USDA Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) started to monitor six non-O157 shiga toxin producing E.coli (STEC), incorporating the RapidChek CONFIRM STEC test kit in their testing method earlier this month.
The system is not an screening method but the company clarified that it will be launching a “easy, rapid, lateral flow strip for non-O157 STECs” in the future.
