Alaska Food Diagnostics has gained the Association of Analytical Communities Research Institute (AOAC RI) accreditation of its fastrAK™ Salmonella rapid pathogen detection method.

The specific and sensitive fastrAK assay, created using patented Adenylate Kinase (AK) Phage™ technology, has received this official recognition for Salmonella testing of Ready to Eat (RTE) and Processed Poultry Products. This achievement reaffirms the work of Alaska Food Diagnostics in the sphere of food quality assurance and will appeal to manufacturers and caterers requiring reliability and specificity in their food testing.

Unique in its function, the fastrAK™ system detects viable cells, kills potentially harmful pathogens and lowers the risk of contamination in the food chain. It can be used for testing a wide range of foods and beverages but in this instance, has been accredited for the testing of the cooked and RTE poultry products that is commonly used in processed meals, sandwiches, pizza toppings and as a stand-alone product. With methodology that is simple to employ in the laboratory, the assay is straightforward with minimal 'hands on' time and no specialist skills are required. It provides accurate results, quickly, reducing wastage associated with false positives and offering poultry processors peace of mind.

Laurence Callow, CEO, Alaska Food Diagnostics, notes: “This formal acknowledgement of the efficacy of the fastrAK™ system by the AOAC RI is very satisfying. The accreditation will further increase interest in our rapid microbiology test platform with food manufacturers and processors. It is an attractive proposition for those wishing to trial this novel pathogen detection technology to assure food safety and will consequently offer an immediate commercial boost.

“Alaska is here primarily to assist the food industry to reduce its cost base and to meet the increasing consumer and regulatory demands on its operations. This science delivers savings to the food industry from the first day of application. Independent confirmation of the speed and accuracy of its detection methods will make a significant impact in the drive for improved food safety standards and will establish Alaska as one of the leading innovators in food safety analysis.”