Rapid Detection of Listeria Monocytogenes

Listeria monocytogenes is a widely distributed food pathogen that has recently been associated with a number of food recalls and outbreaks of illness. Xtrana, Inc. is developing a low complexity genetic- based assay for sensitive and specific detection of L. monocytogenes. The successful development and validation of our assay will provide for confirmed detection of Listeria monocytogenes with vastly improved turnaround times. We anticipate that following minimal enrichment times, the assay will be run directly without the usual selective culture and subculture. In Phase I feasibility of extraction of RNA, capture onto a solid phase, isothermal amplification, and visual result detection was demonstrated. We are now ready to proceed with more rigorous sensitivity and specificity confirmation, interface with all of the food types required for AOAC approval, and confirmation that the assay will be specific to only viable Listeria monocytogenes.