Eureka status for pathogen detection test for poultry meat

Used in diagnostic laboratories, the new RnA multi-analyte Plexâ„¢ assay detects microbial and non-microbial contaminations simultaneously in a single animal-derived sample. The assay is applied at flock, herd or abattoir level to establish the contamination status of an animal population, and allows producers and resellers to predict the quality and assure the safety of final processed food products. RnA are working with Alaska to develop a rapid high-throughput version of the Plexâ„¢ assay system which provides multiple results in one sample run.

Based at the UK government’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) at Porton Down, Alaska has exploited patented Adenylate Kinase (AK) Phageâ„¢ technology to develop the highly sensitive and specific fastrAKâ„¢ rapid microbiology system. This presents a significant technological advance to the global food processing industry sector by offering same-shift Time To Result (TTR) for E. coli 0157 and early-next-day results for Salmonella tests.

RnA launched its first MultiPlex RnAssayâ„¢, Sal Plexâ„¢, in June 2007. Serological analyses can be performed on thousands of samples within 24 hours, like the coming RnAssayâ„¢ product, Sulfo Plexâ„¢, for the detection of residues of sulphonamide antibiotics in meat. The Sal Plexâ„¢ results can differentiate simultaneously between five different Salmonella serogroups (B, C1, C2, D, E). The RnAssayâ„¢ technology enables stakeholders to make a fingerprint of the quality and safety of products becoming food.