title: Comparison of visual immunoassay and chromogenic culture medium for the presence of Listeria spp. in foods.
abstract: Two rapid screening methods [the TECRA Listeria Visual Immunoassay (LIS-VIS) kit, an AOAC-approved 48 h visual test, which detects Listeria through colorimetry, and BCM Listeria isolation and differentiation plating agar] were used to screen U.S. Food and Drug Administration-regulated commodities for the presence of Listeria spp. Seventy-four different food samples were screened for the presence of Listeria spp. by using both protocols. Test results for the TECRA LIS-VIA showed 66 negative samples and 1 false positive, with 4 confirmed as L. monocytogenes and 3 as L. innocua. With the BCM agar, 67 samples were negative, 4 were confirmed as L. monocytogenes, and 3 were confirmed as L. innocua. Both methods showed similar results and were effective screening tools for Listeria spp. in foods. The BCM agar method proved to be a rapid, sensitive, and excellent tool for early screening and differentiation of Listeria spp. present in foods.
authors.affiliation: pistafan@ora.fda.gov
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Istafanos
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hunt
mesh_terms: D004396:Coloring Agents; D003470:Culture Media; D005516:Food Microbiology; D007118:Immunoassay; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008087:Listeria / Q000737:chemistry*; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D003470:Culture Media; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic