ANSR (Amplified Nucleic Single Temperature Reaction) for Listeria was certified in accordance with criteria of a NF Validation study according to the EN ISO 16140 part 2 standard for food and environmental samples.
The firm said it provides genetic level discrimination of specified targets at 1 cfu/25g of sample in 18 minutes, post enrichment and lysis steps.
The ANSR system uses an isothermal DNA amplification process and fluorescent molecular beacon technology to detect the target pathogen.
In the NF study, ANSR for Listeria was validated with a wet pooling protocol that Neogen said permits running one molecular test for up to 10 samples saving reagents, handling and time for the laboratory.
Steve Chambers, of Neogen, said the validation will allow it access to European markets, and beyond, where the use of the test requires an accreditation study according to the AFNOR standard.
"ANSR is a fast DNA-definitive pathogen assay with results in under 23 hours, including enrichment, for Listeria. Compared to the time other methods take to produce DNA-level results, that can mean a huge difference in a laboratory's workflow, and the operations of a food producer."
Neogen is pursuing a similar validation of its ANSR for Listeria monocytogenes rapid molecular test system, and was certified by AFNOR validation for its ANSR for Salmonella in 2013.
ANSR tests, which include kits for Listeria spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7, have been granted PTM(SM) certification by the AOAC Research Institute.
A total of 121 alternative methods for microbiological food analysis were awarded NF Validation (117 validated according to EN/ISO 16140:2003 and four according to ISO/FDIS 16140-2:2015) at the meeting of the NF Validation “Technical Board – Food Microbiology” at the end of January.