bioMérieux Launches a Simple and Rapid VIDAS® L. monocytogenes Testing Solution to Improve Food Safety

bioMérieux, a world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics, is enhancing its VIDAS® line for food pathogen testing with the launch of one of the most rapid, automated, easy-to-use solutions for the screening of L. monocytogenes in food and environmental samples. This new test provides a simple sample preparation, with minimal manipulations, resulting in an optimized laboratory workflow. VIDAS® Listeria monocytogenes Xpress (VIDAS LMX), delivers results in as little as 28 hours, where traditional methods can take up to 3 days.

A major challenge for the food industry, L. monocytogenes is largely categorized as a zero tolerance organism, requiring food manufacturers and processors to maintain a production and quality control process that ensures their manufacturing environments and final products are free from any L. monocytogenes organisms. Listeria monocytogenes is a highly pathogenic bacteria for humans, causing illnesses including meningitis, septicaemia, encephalitis and abortions. Groups at risk include pregnant women, neonates, immunocompromised and elderly people.

“We are pleased to provide yet another innovative solution to address an important food safety challenge,” said Alexandre Mérieux, bioMérieux Corporate Vice President, Industrial Microbiology. “VIDAS LMX is a new member of the VIDAS “Next Day” range that simplifies agri-food laboratories’ workflow, delivering rapid information to optimize the overall efficiency of food production.”

VIDAS LMX, as part of the VIDAS range, provides the agri-food industry with a simple, consistent, standardized testing platform for screening critical pathogens. Its easy-to-use testing platform, coupled with rapid result availability, frees laboratory resources to focus on more value-added activities, such as Hazard and Critical Control Point (HACCP) management. Pathogen testing is of major importance in establishing a HACCP program and is key in minimizing and preventing product contamination by pathogenic organisms. This recent innovation is based on highly specific antibody fragments, which provide a high level of specificity and sensitivity for L. monocytogenes strains. VIDAS LMX is the latest addition to the menu of VIDAS Next Day solutions, including Salmonella species, Listeria species and E. coli O157:H7, that provide the agri-food industry with time-sensitive, critical pathogen results. Consistent with all of the VIDAS food industry solutions, VIDAS LMX will undergo the rigors of various third party validation bodies for international approval.

About VIDAS®

VIDAS® is the world’s leading automated system for food-borne pathogen detection with tests for Escherichia coli O157 (Including H7), Salmonella, Listeria spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus enterotoxins and Campylobacter. VIDAS® and its compact version, mini VIDAS®, are multiparametric systems using ELFA (Enzyme Linked Fluorescent Assay) technology, and based on a ready-to-use single-sample test concept.