InstantLabs[R] Salmonella Species Food Safety Kit: performance tested [Method.sup.SM] 031202

The InstantLabs[R] Salmonella Species Food Safety Kit was validated against the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) reference method 6579:2002 for the detection of Salmonella species. The matrixes (unprocessed rolled oats, wheat flour, and oat flour) were inoculated with 1 CFU/test portion of Salmonella to generate fractional positives (5-15) in 20 inoculated samples. The matrixes were co-inoculated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 at 2-5 times the level of Salmonella to demonstrate the potential for using the same enrichment culture in the future to detect of multiple organisms. Samples were validated using 750 g test portion enriched in FASTGRO SE at 42 [+ or -] 1[degrees]C for 16-20 h. All samples were confirmed using the ISO reference method, regardless of initial screen result. The InstantLabs test method performed as well as or better than the reference method for the detection of Salmonella species in unprocessed rolled oats, wheat flour, and oat flour. Inclusivity and exclusivity testing revealed no false negatives and no false positives among the 100 Salmonella serovars and 30 non-Salmonella species examined. Finally, the method was shown to be robust when variations to enrichment time, DNA extract hold time, and DNA volume were varied (data not shown).