Purpose: The purpose of the study was to compare performance of the Salmonella Triplex Assay with a range of different raw poultry, raw pork and environmental samples and compare the results to those obtained with the ISO 6579:2002 – Horizontal method for the detection of Salmonella spp.
Methods: An unpaired study was conducted by testing 24 samples of 25g comprising eight different raw poultry, raw pork and environmental matrices. Samples were spiked in duplicate with <2 CFU of Salmonella Typhimurium or Salmonella Enteritidis. Unspiked samples were also tested to screen for natural contaminants of Salmonella. Samples were diluted 1-in-10 with BPW+12mg/l novobiocin or BPW and enriched for 16 hours at 37 oC for the candidate method and reference method respectively. Analyzes were conducted according to the protocol described by the Salmonella Triplex PCR Assay with lysis and according to ISO 6579:2002.
Results: The Salmonella Triplex Assay yielded comparable results against the ISO 6579:2002 reference method in 22/31, 26/31 and 29/31 of tested samples for Salmonella spp., S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis, respectively. Similarly 4/31, 3/31 and 1/31 of samples yielded positive deviation and 5/31, 2/31 and 1/31 of samples yielded negative deviation when the Triplex Assay was compared to the ISO 6579:2002 method.
Significance: The study demonstrated that the TaqMan Salmonella Triplex Assay offers a rapid, easy-to-use and reliable workflow for the detection of Salmonella spp., S. Enteritdis and S. Typhimurium in raw poultry, raw pork and environmental samples.