Purpose: This study highlights a simple detection device (Hygiena CrossCheck) that will detect raw chicken juice dried onto a surface and that has been transferred multiple times through contact and still remains detectable. This viability of contaminant through a hand contact environment highlights the need for rapid detection in these situations.
Methods: The juice from grocery store packaged raw chicken was decanted. The chicken juice was then inoculated onto a surface and allowed to dry overnight at ambient temperature. The chicken juice was also rubbed onto gloved hands which then touched 20 sterile squares of stainless steel in sequence. Using the CrossCheck device each square was tested in turn. The assay consists of swabbing the surface and then activating the device. After 5 min incubation at 37°C the level of acid phosphatase is indicated by an RLU level in the luminometer. The assay is extremely sensitive and will detect acid phosphatase down to nanogram levels.
Results: The acid phosphatase in the raw chicken from the initial drying was 34,000,000 RLUs; the background level of acid phosphatase was 24,000. This initial signal dropped with sequential transfers until ACP through the gloved hands became insignificant, i.e., less than the background after 7 transfers on to sterile squares.
Significance: The use of rapid acid phosphatase detection is a useful tool in the detection of cross contamination and is suggested as a proxy measurement to aid reduction of Campylobacter contamination.