Neogen’s tests for Salmonella, including SE, receive NPIP approval

LANSING, Mich., Oct. 6, 2014 — Neogen Corporation (NASDAQ: NEOG) today announced that its rapid tests for Salmonella, including Salmonella Enteritidis (SE), a strain of particular concern to the poultry industry, have received approval from the National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP).

Neogen’s newly NPIP-approved tests, Reveal® 2.0 for Group D1 Salmonella (including SE), and ANSR® for Salmonella, provide the poultry industry with quick and easy methods of detecting the dangerous pathogen. Both tests utilize the NPIP enrichment procedure adapted from the NPIP reference culture method.

“NPIP’s approval further validates our tests are invaluable tools to egg and poultry producers, as they comply with the FDA’s regulations, and seek to further reduce the likelihood of SE- and Salmonella-contaminated products reaching consumers,” said Ed Bradley, Neogen’s vice president of Food Safety. “Until our introduction of an effective rapid test for SE, the industry had to wait up to seven days for an outside laboratory’s test results. Our newly approved tests provide the rapid, accurate answers needed to effectively manage flocks and egg production.”

Neogen’s Reveal test for SE is the only NPIP-approved simple lateral flow device that detects SE in poultry house environmental samples. The new method features markedly improved performance over previous SE lateral flow tests, including enhanced sensitivity of the device itself. Most notably, the new device may be used with Semi-Solid Modified Rappaport-Vassiliadis medium (MSRV), which is integral to NPIP’s culture method for Salmonella.

Neogen’s ANSR system uses an innovative isothermal DNA amplification process to increase DNA to detectable levels and fluorescent molecular beacon technology for detection of the pathogen target. Combined with ANSR’s single enrichment step, Neogen’s new pathogen detection method can provide DNA-definitive results for Salmonella in as little as 10 hours from the time the sample is taken.

NPIP provides a cooperative industry-state-federal program through which new technology can be effectively applied to the improvement of poultry and poultry products throughout the country. NPIP also provides certification that poultry are free from disease and pathogens, such as SE.

Neogen Corporation develops and markets products dedicated to food and animal safety. The company’s Food Safety Division markets dehydrated culture media and diagnostic test kits to detect foodborne bacteria, natural toxins, food allergens, drug residues, plant diseases and sanitation concerns. Neogen’s Animal Safety Division is a leader in the development of animal genomics along with the manufacturing and distribution of a variety of animal healthcare products, including diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, veterinary instruments, wound care and disinfectants.