In production environments, pathogen detection often requires result turnaround times that are difficult to achieve with traditional microbiological analyses, which involve growth on culture media for several days and, if necessary, subsequent confirmation, as well as access to a suitably equipped laboratory.
Rapid kits for the detection and quantification of microorganisms help overcome or reduce these limitations and are extremely useful when timely action is required, including for screening activities or in-process controls.
Methods
Easy MBS and SwabSure colorimetric tests
They consist of special culture broths that change color in the presence of specific conditions correlated with bacterial growth.
They allow results—also quantitative—to be obtained much faster than with traditional methods. Results are available within a few hours if contamination levels are high; otherwise, they may take 24, 32, 48, and up to 67 hours depending on the microorganism.
Easy MBS reading can also be automated.
Hydrosense Legionella lateral flow immunoenzymatic tests
They use lateral flow immunochromatographic technology to detect the presence of antigens on the cell surface of Legionella bacteria.
They employ anti-Legionella antibodies labeled with red nanoparticles, which bind to all bacteria present in the sample and make them visible as a red line on the device.
Results are obtained within 25–30 minutes.
