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Food safety testing for poultry: pathogen expert weighs in.

If you work in the raw poultry industry, Campylobacter testing is key to your operations - especially if you’re exporting your product internationally.

Campylobacter is a bacterium that can be found in foods like chicken and can lead to symptoms such as fever, nausea, and abdominal and muscle pain. Many countries, including the United States, require all poultry products to undergo food safety testing for this bacterium.

food manufacturing plant

But, traditional Campylobacter testing methods, like polymerase chain reaction (PCR), immunoassay, and culture methods require multiple steps – impacting your time to results.

That’s why I’m excited about 3M™ Molecular Detection Assay 2 – Campylobacter – 3M’s solution to simplifying Campylobacter testing for fast and reliable reads.

From process impact to reliability, I’ve received a lot of questions about this campylobacter detection method. Here are the answers to the three most frequently asked questions.

1. What makes this food safety testing technology different than traditional Campylobacter detection method?

As a microbiologist working with food safety and quality testing labs across Canada, I’m given a unique inside look, into the ins and outs of labs – big and small across Canada. And, a question I’m often asked is: how can I streamline processes for simplified and accurate results?

This is exactly what we’ve done with 3M™ Molecular Detection Assay 2 – Campylobacter. Traditional enrichments for Campylobacter (e.g. enrichments used for PCR, immunoassay, and culture methods) required labs to follow an 11 (or more) step protocol.

The 3M™ Molecular Detection Assay 2 – Campylobacter enrichment is only five-steps – offering a much simpler overall media preparation and incubation process than traditional Campylobacter testing methods.

2. How does 3M’s food safety testing technology for Campylobacter detection work? Describe the science.

The 3M™ Molecular Detection Assay 2 – Campylobacter builds off the same science that powers the 3M™ Molecular Detection System. It uses isothermal amplification with bioluminescent detection, which helps to mitigate the risk of human error by streamlining the workflow. *

3M Technology spotlight: 3M™ Molecular Detection System can perform up to 96 different food safety tests, including Campylobacter in one 60-minute cycle.*  A significant benefit of MDS is that you can batch Campylobacter and Salmonella in the same run.

3. What are the top benefits to choosing 3M’s food safety testing technology for Campylobacter detection?

One of the benefits of 3M™ Molecular Detection Assay 2 – Campylobacter are speed to results. It provides food safety testing results within a 22 to 28 hours window, allowing for next day results. *

Another advantage of 3M™ Molecular Detection Assay 2 – Campylobacter is that it follows the same simplified process as all other 3M™ Molecular Detection Assays. The streamlined approach offers time and labour-saving advantage for a food safety and quality lab.

*3M Data on File.

About the Author

[enBio=Christian is an expert in pathogens, detection, and trends in microbial food safety testing. Since joining 3M in 2006, he has been sought-after by labs across Canada – big and small – for training and consulting. Christian’s depth of experience positions him to offer critical insights into the future of technology for food safety and quality testing labs in Canada.],[enJob=Pathogen Specialist, 3M Canada],[frBio=Christian, expert en agents pathogènes, en détection et en tendances en analyses de sécurité alimentaire microbiennes. Depuis qu’il a joint 3M en 2006, il a été sollicité par des laboratoires du Canada – grands et petits – pour de la formation et de la consultation. La vaste expérience de Christian lui permet de fournir des perspectives importantes sur l’avenir de la technologie dans les laboratoires d’analyse de qualité et de sécurité alimentaire au Canada.],[frJob=Spécialiste en pathogènes, Compagnie 3M Canada]

Profile Photo of Christian Blyth