Rapid Pathogen Detection by Surface Swab Sampling and Wireless Biosensing

Abstract

This paper presents a method that combines surface swab sampling and wireless biosensing for rapid detection of foodborne pathogens on solid surfaces. The method can be applied to any surfaces, including the surfaces of food processing tables and fresh produce, for food safety improvement. Surface swab sampling is an inexpensive and easy-to-use method of collecting pathogens. A desired area or the whole area of a target surface (if needed) can be swabbed to collect pathogens rapidly. In this study, five commercially available swabs were compared. We first investigated the water absorption capacities of the swabs and then analyzed the efficiencies of capture and release of a model pathogen, Salmonella Typhimurium. Plate counting was employed to quantify the initially inoculated cells and collected cells by surface swabbing, and the efficiency of capture and release was calculated.