“This is a good example of how FSIS is using new technology to improve
efficiency,” said Bill Hudnall, acting FSIS administrator. “FSIS
can reduce the time that it takes to notify meat and poultry producers of a
negative result, and fewer false positives will help to reduce agency resources
used to confirm positive screen tests.”
The BAX system was evaluated at the FSIS Microbial Outbreaks and Special Projects
Branch (MOSPB) laboratory in Athens, Ga. After the MOSPB evaluation, the eastern
field service laboratory in Athens, Ga., screened approximately 830 random samples
for Listeria monocytogenes using both the BAX and the Fraser broth method. Each
sample was put through the Fraser broth screening analysis, and a portion of
the enrichment broth was used to conduct the BAX test.