Purpose: The objective of this study was to determine the ability of the InnovaPrep CP technology to extract and concentrate bacteria from a food matrix for detection in less than eight hours.
Methods: Six experimental runs of eight replicates containing an inoculum of one to 10 CFU/25 g food were sampled using the InnovaPrep CP at time points zero, four to six, and 24 h post enrichment. All samples were processed for DNA extraction with an iQ-Check Biorad kit for Salmonella spp., Listeria spp., or Escherichia coli O157:H7. Standard sampling after enrichment in selective broths, at each time point, was conducted as a control. PCR was performed and positive samples were determined by endpoint analysis using the negative control RFU plus the tolerance determined by the IQ5 software.
Results: There were significant differences (P≤0.05) in ground beef inoculated with E.coli at zero and four hours and lettuce inoculated with L. monocytogenes at zero hours using the CP versus traditional sampling methods.
Significance: Our data showed that the InnovaPrep CP system can detect one to 10 CFU/25g food in a zero to six hour time frame, but the results are inconsistent and food specific. These results are relevant as this technology is of interest to the food industry as a means for rapid pathogen detection.