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Real-time PCR methods for detecting foodborne pathogens offer the advantages of simplicity and quick time-to-results compared to traditional culture methods. In this study, the MicroSEQ real-time PCR system was evaluated for detection of Salmonella spp. in 10 different food matrixes following the AOAC Research Institute's Performance Tested Method validation program. In addition, the performance of the MicroSEQ system was evaluated for the detection of Salmonella in peanut butter as a part of the Emergency Response Validation Program sponsored by the AOAC Research Institute. The system was compared to the ISO 6579 reference method using a paired-study design for detecting Salmonella spp. in raw ground beef, raw chicken, raw shrimp, Brie cheese, shell eggs, cantaloupe, chocolate, black pepper, dry infant formula, and dry pet food. For the peanut butter study, the system was compared to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Bacteriological Analytical Manual procedures using an unpaired-study design. No significant difference in performance was observed between the MicroSEQ Salmonella spp. detection system and the corresponding reference methods for all 11 food matrixes. The MicroSEQ system detected all Salmonella strains tested, while showing good discrimination against detection of an exclusivity panel of 30 strains, with high accuracy.

The article presents a study which validated the applied biosystems MicroSEQ real-time polymerase chain reaction method to detect Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157:H7 in several good matrixes. The test method was compared to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's "Microbiology Laboratory Guidebook" 5.04 reference method for detecting E. coli in ground beef and beef trim and to the ISO 16654 reference method for detecting E. coli in spinach, orange juice and apple juice.

Objective: The Filipino β°-deletion has been reported as a unique mutation in East Malaysia with a severe phenotype due to the complete absence of β-globin chain synthesis. In this study, the haplotype patterns of the β-globin gene cluster were used to relate the human genetic variation to this specific β-thalassaemia mutation. Methods: The 376 study subjects included 219 β-thalassaemia major (β-TM) patients with homozygous Filipino β°-deletion and 157 carriers with heterozygous Filipino β°-deletion from 10 government hospitals in different regions of Sabah. Genomic DNA was isolated from whole blood using silica membrane based DNA purification protocol. Polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (PCR-RFLP) was conducted on five markers within the β-globin gene cluster to construct the haplotype patterns. Results: Four haplotypes (Haplotype I--IV) were identified with Haplotype I as the predominant haplotype with the highest frequency of 0.98, followed by Haplotype II, III and Haplotype IV with 0.02. Haplotype I was strongly linked with the Filipino β°-deletion among the indigenous population. Conclusion: Haplotype I as the predominant haplotype suggests the patients with the Filipino β°-deletion in Sabah have a similar origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the certified MicroSEQ Listeria species Detection Kit method for the detection of bacteria in ready-to-eat meats as liver patée, raw fermented sausage, and sliced deli ham, and on stainless steel. It discusses the principle of the method based on Real-time polymerase chain reaction amplification and data analysis. It lists the apparatus needed such as incubators, stomacher, and benchtop microcentrifuge, required test kit components, and reagents.

The article presents the certified MicroSEQ Listeria monocytogenes Detection Kit method for detection of the bacteria in ready-to-eat meats as hot dogs, raw fermented sausage, and slice deli turkey, and on stainless steel surfaces. It discusses the principle of the method based on TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction technology, and the RapidFinder Express software. A table showing probability on detection between presumptive and confirmed bacteria is presented.