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Canadian researchers create E. coli test-in-a-box
Story Date: 7/18/2013
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Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 7/17/13
Researchers at the University of Alberta have developed what they say is a device for use at meat processing plants that is more sensitive at recognizing strains of E. coli, faster at delivering test results and less expensive than current tests.
The device is about the size of a large shoebox and allows users to place samples inside, push a button and get results in less than an hour. The process — which relies on a gene replicator the size of a postage stamp — generates millions of genes in the meat sample, making it easier to detect whether E. coli is present. The test can be managed by processing plant workers who don’t need extensive training and testing can be repeated often because it’s inexpensive to use, the researchers contend.
The team this week received $500,000 in funding from Genome Alberta and its partners and the researchers believe the technology eventually could be expanded to detect other food borne pathogens inside meat processing plants. The technology has already been used to detect cancer and identify infections stemming from sexually transmitted diseases.
No timetable for commercial availability of the new E. coli detection test was announced.
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