Faster Way to Check Foods for Pathogens

Instantlab has developed a system that checks for pathogens cheaper and faster than using traditional labs. So far it can check for Listeria, Salmonella and E coli. The are working on adding other pathogens such as Vibrio, a genus of bacteria that can be found in seafood. The system is called Hunter and is small so it can be used on sight. This way they don’t have to send the samples to a lab to test them. It not only can check foods but can check for pathogens on surfaces in the food processing center.

It can get results on listeria within 24 hours significantly faster than traditional methods of pathogen testing, The bacterial genus Listeria is an increasingly prevalent and dangerous global food pathogen, and can be found in foods as diverse as dairy, produce, meat, and poultry products. Contamination by Listeria can happen at any point in the food processing chain, making it important to test final food products as well as the environment including surfaces and machinery along the entire food processing

line.

It can also detect Salmonella in 10 hours. Salmonella bacteria are incredibly resilient and the cause of salmonellosis, the most frequently reported source of foodborne illness with symptoms including diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, and sometimes vomiting. Salmonellosis can also result in a wide range of secondary illnesses, including typhoid fever and septic (blood-borne) illness, as well as long-lasting complications for those with compromised immune systems.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Salmonella is responsible for an estimated 1.2 million cases of salmonellosis annually in the United States, and results in $365 million in direct medical costs each year. Its victims are most likely to be five years of age or younger, and food poisoning cases caused by Salmonella have increased by 10 percent in recent years. A diverse range of foods, including raw chicken, eggs, sprouts, produce, ground turkey, and peanut butter have been implicated in Salmonella-related foodborne illnesses. Due to the nature of the pathogen (many different strains and a presence in a number of different foods, sometimes at very low levels), rapid Salmonella detection can present challenges for traditional test.

The big advantage in using the Hunter system is that it is easier to tell all seven forms of E coli that are harmful to humans. It can tell the difference between harmful E coli and the E coli that doesn't harm people’

Escherichia coli, or E. coli, is commonly found in the lower intestine of warm blooded organisms.  Although most strains of E. coli are innocuous – and often even beneficial – to daily human life, some strains (such as O157:H7) are highly pathogenic to humans. This toxicity is particularly acute for the elderly, the young, and those with compromised immune systems. Infection with these pathogenic strains can result in hemorrhagic diarrhea and even kidney failure. Although only some strains of E. coli are considered dangerous, they can be found in diverse food items such as grains, eggs, produce, poultry, fruits, dairy, and meats.

The most important thing about the Hunter system is its speed. The faster pathogens are found the fewer people get sick.