Rapid Detection of E.coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp. and Listeria spp.

Rapid tests for microbial detection in food processing on the market today provide information on the presence or absence of specific pathogens after an enrichment process of 24 to 48 hours. Our method will utilize immunomagnetic separation after brief enrichment (<7 hours) using specific antibodies for each of these three pathogens to isolate and concentrate the bacteria from the food matrix (meat or surface debris). This clean sample will then be treated with a general DNA specific fluorochrome for cytometric detection. This method will be interfaced with a specialized flow cytometer (RBD2000) designed to provide accurate and low level detection of these fluorescent signals. Verification of the presence of each pathogen will be confirmed based upon comparison of cytometric detection with traditional plating techniques. The integration of capture, labeling and counting methodology will provide a fast and accurate presence/absence detection test for Listeria and Salmonella in poultry wash and Listeria, Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 in carcass and plant surface samples.