PathoGenetix to launch low cost model of Resolution system at IAFP

The firm said the Resolution microbial genotyping system will be presented at the event July 31 - August 3 in Missouri. It can identify pathogens in hours from mix cultures. 

The Resolution system performs molecular serotyping of pathogens from a presumptive positive enriched food sample with no isolate required.

Specificity is comparable to Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE).

Reduced instrument cost​

Hamid Shirkhan, CEO of PathoGenetix, said with the new design, the price of the instrument and consumables have been reduced by 50%.

“The system automatically extracts, purifies and sequence-specific labels genomic DNA with fluorescent probes,” ​he told FoodQualityNews.

“Proprietary Genome Sequence Scanning (GSS) technology measures barcodes of microbial DNA as it flows through a microfluidic chip at 10 million base pairs per second. ​

“These genomic barcodes are compared to a barcode database resulting in molecular serotype/straintype identification.”  ​

Serotyping assays are currently available for Salmonella and shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). 

Since initial production release in 2015, PathoGenetix has been developing the new generation model of Resolution and reducing cost of the instrument.

The firm also has a collaboration agreement with FDA and CDC to test the system for different strains of bacteria and is in the process of applying for AOAC validation.

Toxic Reports acquired the assets of PathoGenetix, including all intellectual property, designs and prototype instruments at the start of 2015.

Shirkhan said the system is positioned in the laboratory workflow as a confirmatory test of a presumptive positive food sample.

“LoD is 1% of a total 500 ng load. Resolution performs preparation of eight samples in parallel followed by a one-sample-at-a-time detection and analysis. Time to first result is 4.5 hours. All analysis is completed in eight hours,” ​he said.

“We have reduced the cost of manufacturing which enables us to reduce the end user cost from $250,000 to $97,000. ​

“The cost reduction also enables us to offer a reagent rental program which eliminates the large capital purchase barrier for customers by amortizing the instrument cost through higher reagent/assay prices.”​

The fully automated sample preparation and detection enables the firm to offer what it called a ‘very competitive product’ that could replace PGFE. 

“The speed and simplicity combined with low cost consumables makes the Resolution microbial system an ideal tool for routine analysis,” ​said Shirkan.  

“With the Resolution product, food laboratories can run the system automatically and unattended to identify pathogens from a mixed culture in less than five hours at the consumable cost of less than $68. The system process eight samples simultaneously.”​

Shirkhan described the future as looking ‘very promising’.

“The need for simpler, faster and lower cost bacteria identification system and consumables makes our bacteria genotyping system an ideal tool for bacteria identification,” ​he said.

“This spans multiple markets such as food safety, microbiome monitoring as well as rapid bacteria identification for critical care.”​