FLASH is a total protein visual test and each device can detect at two sensitivity levels (20µg when tested at room temperature; 3µg in high temperature incubation).
It is a pass / fail test read by visual color interpretation within 10 minutes.
Phil Feldsine, CEO of BioControl Systems, said verification of production environment sanitation, including minimizing potential allergen contamination is and will continue to be a key focus for producers.
“FLASH is an important element of an effective HACCP program by providing a quick and simple means for verifying recently cleaned product contact surfaces are, in fact, free from protein residues.”
There are eight allergenic foods which account for 90% of all food allergies in the US, according to the Food Allergy Research and Resource Program (FARRP) at the University of Nebrasksa-Lincoln.
These are: milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybean.
While ATP testing is industry-standard for monitoring the efficiency of sanitation programs, the presence of ATP does not necessarily indicate protein residues, said the firm.