Purpose: An independent study was conducted at ADRIA as part of the NF VALIDATION approval process, in order to extend the scope of the ISO 16140 validation study to spices and aromatic herbs, concentrates and culinary products, cocoa and cocoa based products, and milk powders. The ISO 6579 standard was used as reference method.
Methods: The 3M Molecular Detection Assay Salmonella test protocol includes a single enrichment step in Buffered Peptone Water (ISO), and specific enrichment procedures are dedicated to tested matrices. Two incubation temperatures are validated depending on the tested food categories (37°C and 41.5°C). After lysis, DNA amplification is performed in the 3M Molecular Detection Instrument.
Results: Two hundred eighty-nine samples were analyzed for relative accuracy, sensitivity and specificity study. The results demonstrate equivalent performances between the 3M Molecular Detection Assay Salmonella method and the ISO 6579 methods. Depending on the tested (matrix/strain) pairs, the relative detection limits of the 3M Molecular Detection Assay Salmonella method vary from 0.3 to 3.6 CFU/25 g for the alternative method, those of the ISO standard vary from 0.4 to 2.8 CFU/25 g.
Significance: The alternative method is a reliable method for Salmonella spp. detection in spices and aromatic herbs, concentrates and culinary products, cocoa and cocoa based products, and milk powders. The 3M Molecular Detection Assay Salmonella kit offers important economic savings by reducing time to result and handling time.