IQ-Check Listeria monocytogenes II

Abstract

Abstract A comparative evaluation study of the Bio-Rad® iQ-Check™Listeria monocytogenes II Kit (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, CA) was conducted at Q Laboratories, Inc., Cincinnati, OH. iQ-Check is a rapid method based on real-time PCR amplification and detection of L. monocytogenes in food and environmental samples. The iQ-Check method was compared to the Health Canada MFHPB-30 reference method for the analysis of five ready-to-eat meats—deli turkey, hot dogs, liver paté, raw fermented sausage, and deli ham—and one stainless steel surface. Each food matrix was analyzed at two contamination levels: a low level at 0.2–2 CFU/25 g and a high level at 2–5 CFU/25 g. The environmental surfaces were analyzed at a low level of 0.2–2 CFU/5 cm2 sampling area and a high level of 2–5 CFU/5 cm2 sampling area. There were 20 replicates per contamination level and five control replicates at 0 CFU/25 g or 0 CFU/5 cm2 sampling area (uninoculated). All samples detected by iQ-Check were subsequently confirmed by reference method protocol. There was no significant difference in the number of positive samples detected by the iQ-Check Listeria monocytogenes II Kit in comparison to the Health Canada MFHPB-30 method for all matrixes tested.