This news article was originally written in Spanish. It has been automatically translated for your convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace a human translator. The original article in Spanish can be viewed at Un nuevo sistema detecta Listeria más rápidamente en superficies industriales alimentarias

A new system detects Listeria more quickly in alimentary industrial surfaces

28/11/2012

28 November 2012

The project Biolisme has attained to build —to scale of laboratory— the first able prototype to detect ‘Listeria monocytogenes' in surfaces of equipment of industries of feeding, of fast form, simple and effective, contributing like this to the improvement of the control in alimentary hygiene. It treats of a system composed by a team of sampling of surfaces and a biosensor, that allows to the own companies users happen to expect several days between the taking of samples and the reception of the analytical results to be able to realise the analyses in his own installations, with a saving of time and of considerable cost.

The new method developed only needs of 5 minutes to take the sample. With this system achieves greater rapidity in the detection of L.monocytogenes Adhered to surfaces, since it is able to detect the bacterium in environingingmental samples in 1 hour, in front of the time that at present the industry employs in the obtaining of results once sent the sample to the laboratory (a minimum of 24 hours using technical fast and until 5 days, with the traditional technicians).

The proofs realised to scale of laboratory show that the traditional technicians of sampling attain to recover only 2% of the pathogen adhered to the surfaces, whereas the method developed has reached an efficiency average of recovery of 63%.

The prototype developed allows to analyse a greater number of samples, integrate the stages of the analysis facilitating his use, more rapidity in the detection and the reduction of the cost by analysis. These advantages suppose to surpass the limitations of the current technicians for the sampling and analysis of Listeria, mainly related with the length and need of personnel and skilled equipment, since these analyses are used to to be subcontracted to external laboratories, increasing the cost and time of the reception of the results.

Have of this new tool supposes, in definite, greater autonomy for the company in the analysis, what translates in greater control of the microbiological pollution of surfaces in contact with foods along the processes of production and commercialisation.

Led by ainia technological centre, in the project Biolisme participate Betelgeux S. L. (Spain), University of Southampton (United Kingdom), Dublin City University (Ireland), Photek Ltd. (United Kingdom) and 40-30 (France).