Purpose: To evaluate the Atlas® Salmonella G2 Detection Assay for the detection of Salmonella enterica spp. in food and environmental surfaces.
Methods: A single 10 or 12 h enrichment for short shelf life products and a 16 h enrichment for long shelf life products and environmental surfaces was used, and after enrichment, the sample was processed for bacterial lysis, template specific sample extraction, amplification, and probe detection per assay protocol. A total of 6 foods and three environmental surfaces were compared to the USDA MLG 4.05 or FDA BAM-5 reference method in an internal study and one food and one environmental surface in an external study. Selectivity was evaluated by testing 100 target microorganisms in three different media and 30 non-target microorganisms.
Results: The assay detected 100% of 100 target Salmonella enterica spp. and did not detect 30 exclusive microorganisms. It was equivalent or better than the reference method for high fat ground beef (25g and 375g), lettuce (375g), deli turkey (325g) and ground turkey (375g), plastic surface, sealed concrete and stainless steel. Evaluation of one food, ground turkey (375g), is still in progress. The test method provided the final result in 16-30 hours utilizing compared to at least 3 days for cultural methods.
Significance: The Atlas® Salmonella G2 Detection Assay detected Salmonella enterica spp. In a variety of food and environmental samples.