Visual immunoprecipitate assay (VIP) for Listeria monocytogenes and related Listeria species detection in selected foods: collaborative study

Six foods representing a variety of food products were analyzed by the Visual immunoprecipitate Assay (VIP) and either the Bacteriological Analytical Manual (BAM) or the U.S. Department of Agriculture culture methods for detection of Listeria monocytogenes and related Listeria spp. Samples of each food type at each inoculation level were simultaneously analyzed by both methods. A total of 23 laboratories representing federal agencies and private industry in the United States and Canada participated in this collaborative study. Foods were inoculated with Listeria species including L. monocytogenes, with the exception of 3 lots of green beans that were naturally contaminated. During this study, 1509 samples and controls were analyzed and confirmed, of which 370 were positive and 921 were negative by both methods. One hundred and fifteen samples were positive by culture methods but negative by VIP. One hundred and thirty-two were negative by culture methods but positive by the VIP. Twenty-nine samples were negative by VIP and by culture methods but confirmed positive when VIP selective enrichment broths were subcultured to selective agars. The VIP method for detection of L. monocytogenes and related Listeria spp. in foods has been adopted first action by AOAC INTERNATIONAL