bioMérieux Launches VIDAS® LPT, a Fast, Ground-breaking Listeria Detection Method

bioMérieux, a world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics, today launched a new, innovative food safety testing method, VIDAS® UP Listeria (LPT). This new solution utilizes recombinant bacteriophage (phage) proteins, which offer best-in-class specificity and sensitivity for the targeted and rapid detection of Listeria species in food and environmental samples. VIDAS LPT complements the company’s VIDAS® UP E. coli O157 (including H7) and VIDAS® UP Salmonella, all based on phage technology.

The new VIDAS LPT assay is one of the most rapid and easy-to-use Listeria spp screening tests for food and environmental samples. Based on phage protein technology, it is able to detect low contamination levels and provides an extremely simple enrichment protocol, which reduces laboratory hands-on time, and delivers next-day results as compared to reference methods, which require up to five days.

VIDAS LPT has already been ISO 16140 certified by AFNOR for all human foods and production environment samples. AOAC-RI validation has been initiated.

“bioMérieux is committed to helping customers ensure food safety worldwide,” said Jean-Marc Durano, Corporate Vice President, Industrial Microbiology Unit. “VIDAS LPT is a new member of the VIDAS UP range that simplifies agri-food laboratories’ workflow, delivering rapid information to optimize the overall efficiency of food production.”

For more information, visit VIDAS® Solutions for Listeria spp

About Listeria

Members of the genus Listeria are ubiquitous, and Listeria monocytogenes is pathogenic for humans. Listeria have been isolated from various food products including dairy products, meat, vegetables, and seafood, as well as from environmental samples taken, in particular, from food processing plants. Listeriosis in humans may cause pathologies such as meningitis, septicaemia, encephalitis and abortions. People at risk include pregnant women, neonates, immunocompromised patients, and the elderly.
More information about Listeria spp.

About Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, some of the most abundant life forms on earth, are highly specific viruses programmed exclusively to identify and infect host bacteria. Phages have co-evolved with bacteria for more than a billion years and are able to survive in the most extreme environments including soil, animal waste and intestinal tracts. Research shows that bacteriophages offer a number of advantages, such as superior specificity and superior binding, when used in microbiological test systems. Phage proteins have been proven to provide robust performance in many different applications, even when challenged with the most demanding and complex food matrices.
Licensed exclusively to bioMérieux, the recombinant phage technology was developed by the German biotech company Hyglos GmbH.

More information about VIDAS® UP 24h solution

About bioMérieux Food Safety

bioMérieux has been a global leader in providing innovative solutions to address food safety testing issues for more than 20 years. bioMérieux's food safety focus encompasses prevention, detection, and quality assurance. The company offers extensive global resources and local expertise in microbiology and food safety, driven by cutting-edge research and science to bring powerful new tools to the food industry. bioMérieux's food testing solutions, including AES sample and media preparation equipment, prepared culture media, VIDAS®, TEMPO®, BacT/ALERT®, Scan-RDI®, D-Count®, BactiFlow®, VITEK® 2 and DiversiLab®, reflect its commitment to improving public health through a safe and nutritious food supply, accessible globally. To learn more about food safety and quality solutions from bioMérieux, visit www.biomerieux-industry.com.
 

About bioMérieux
Advancing Diagnostics to Improve Public Health

A world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics for over 45 years, bioMérieux is present in more than 150 countries through 40 subsidiaries and a large network of distributors. In 2011, revenues reached €1.427 billion with 87% of sales outside of France.

bioMérieux provides diagnostic solutions (reagents, instruments, software) which determine the source of disease and contamination to improve patient health and ensure consumer safety. Its products are used for diagnosing infectious diseases and providing high medical value results for cancer screening and monitoring and cardiovascular emergencies. They are also used for detecting microorganisms in agri-food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.

bioMérieux is listed on the NYSE Euronext Paris market (Symbol: BIM – ISIN: FR0010096479).

Additional information can be found at www.biomerieux.com.