Application of BAX system, Tecra Unique Salmonella test, and a conventional culture method for the detection of Salmonella in ready-to-eat and raw foods.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the BAX system, the Tecra Unique Salmonella test, and a conventional culture method for the detection of Salmonella in various foods.


RESULTS
Ready-to-eat and raw foods were inoculated with Salmonella serotype Typhimurium, Salmonella serotype Enteritidis, Salmonella serotype Typhi, or Salmonella serotype Derby. Incubated pre-enrichment cultures were examined using the BAX system, the Tecra Unique Salmonella test, and a conventional culture method. Salmonella could be detected in all ready-to-eat food samples inoculated with S. Typhimurium, S. Enteritidis, or S. Derby, with any of the three test methods. However, false negatives were obtained with the Tecra test and the culture method when samples with higher background flora were inoculated with S. Typhi. Sensitivity test results suggested the two rapid tests performed as well as the culture method in the detection of 10(1) CFU of S. Typhimurium in 25-g cooked or raw food.


CONCLUSIONS
The BAX system and the Tecra Unique Salmonella test demonstrated results comparable with those of the culture method in the detection of Salmonella serotypes used except S. Typhi.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first evaluation of the BAX system, the Tecra Unique Salmonella test, and a culture method in the detection of Salmonella in a variety of western and oriental foods.
Cheung
P-Y
PY
Food and Water Laboratory, Public Health Laboratory Services Branch, Department of Health, Hong Kong. pycheung@dh.gov.hk
Kwok
K K
KK
Kam
K M
KM
D000818:Animals; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005516:Food Microbiology; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology*; D011200:Poultry / Q000382:microbiology; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012475:Salmonella / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012477:Salmonella enteritidis / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000302:isolation & purification; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000382:microbiology
D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic