title: Development and validation of a rapid real-time PCR based method for the specific detection of Salmonella on fresh meat.
abstract: In this study, a combined enrichment/real-time PCR method for the rapid detection of Salmonella on fresh meat carcasses, was designed, developed and validated in-house following requirements outlined in ISO 16140:2003. The method included an 18h non-selective enrichment in buffered peptone water (BPW) and a 6h selective enrichment in Rappaport Vasilliadis Soya (RVS) broth, based on the traditional culture method, ISO 6579:2002. The real-time PCR assay included an internal amplification control (IAC), was 100% specific and was sensitive to one cell equivalent. The alternative method was validated against the traditional culture method and relative accuracy of 94.9%, sensitivity of 94.7% and specificity of 100% were determined using 150 fresh meat carcass swabs. This alternative method had a detection limit of 1-10CFU/100cm(2) for fresh meat carcass swabs and was performed in 26h. Following further inter-laboratory studies, this alternative method could be suitable for implementation in testing laboratories for the analysis of carcass swabs.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Diagnostics Research Group, National Centre for Biomedical Engineering Science, National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McGuinness
authors.forename: Evonne
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McCabe
authors.forename: Edel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: O'Regan
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dolan
authors.forename: Geraldine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Duffy
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Burgess
authors.forename: Seamus
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fanning
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: O'Grady