Neogen’s rapid test for Salmonella receives AOAC approval

LANSING, Mich., Dec. 14, 2010 — Neogen Corporation today announced that its enhanced rapid test for Salmonella has received approval from AOAC International.

Neogen’s new test kit, Reveal 2.0 for Salmonella, provides the food industry a quick, accurate and easy method of detecting this pathogen without compromising sensitivity or specificity. The AOAC’s process validated the accuracy of the Reveal 2.0 for Salmonella system when testing food, rinse water and environmental samples.

“The Reveal 2.0 for Salmonella system cuts the wait time for results to just 24 hours, with only 15 minutes of test development time following enrichment,” said Neogen’s Ed Bradley. “We are pleased that the AOAC-approval further validates our test as an invaluable tool to food producers.”

In the AOAC study, Reveal 2.0 for Salmonella was found to be an effective procedure for the detection of Salmonella enterica in chicken carcass rinse water, raw ground turkey and beef, hot dogs, raw shrimp, ready-to-eat meal products, dry pet food, ice cream, fresh spinach, cantaloupe, peanut butter and sprout irrigation water, and on stainless steel surfaces.

“The Reveal 2.0 Salmonella test system greatly simplifies the Salmonella testing protocol by instituting comprehensive sample enrichment procedures that apply to most sample commodities,” said Bradley. “In the case of raw poultry and meat samples and poultry carcass rinses, Neogen has developed a single enrichment protocol that eliminates the hands-on time and effort of multiple enrichments, while maintaining same-day results. This is the first AOAC-approved kit in a new line of pathogen test kits designed for accurate results with minimal steps for users.”

The foodborne illness caused by Salmonella is generally due to eating raw, incompletely cooked, or crosscontaminated foods. Salmonella bacteria is the most frequently reported cause of foodborne illness.

Neogen’s comprehensive line of products it offers to the food industry also includes a full line of agricultural cleaners and disinfectants, and rodenticides, to stop the spread of infectious disease from animal to animal, and from production facilities to the consumer.

Neogen Corporation (Nasdaq: NEOG) develops and markets products dedicated to food and animal safety. The company’s Food Safety Division markets diagnostic test kits to detect foodborne bacteria, natural toxins, genetic modifications, food allergens, drug residues, plant diseases, and sanitation concerns, and dehydrated culture media. Neogen’s Animal Safety Division markets a complete line of diagnostics, veterinary instruments, veterinary pharmaceuticals, nutritional supplements, disinfectants, and rodenticides.