CCFRA Evaluation of New FastrAK™ Pathogen Test Shows Speed and Sensitivity
 | At the recent IAFP meeting in Baltimore USA, Dr Roy Betts of Campden and Chorleywood Food Research Association (CCFRA) joined Alaska representatives to explain to delegates how Alaska’s AK-Phage™ detection method is unique in its ability to identify very low levels of Salmonella and E.Coli 0157 within a working day and Listeria in as little as 15 hours.
| Dr Betts has recently reported the CCFRA’s independent findings during stringent evaluation tests. He explains: "In our tests Alaska’s fastrAK™ method produced higher numbers of positive results within a working day, compared to the conventional method, which required three days to yield a confirmed negative result and over five days for a confirmed positive result. This is a dramatic improvement in accuracy and speed."
Alaska’s fastrAK™ method achieves a high degree of specificity and sensitivity through its use of Immuno-Magnetic Separation (IMS) and AK bioluminescence and bacteriophage (AK-Phage™) to capture pathogens. Not only does this method detect their presence, its proprietary bacteriophages break open and kill target pathogens that may be present in the sample during the actual test. This eliminates the risk of multiplication, which is a real danger in conventional methods, typically requiring a minimum of 24 hours and overnight incubation.
Alaska’s CEO, Laurence Callow, added: "No other food testing procedure currently available – anywhere in the world – will produce such accurate results within a single working day. This timescale is a real breakthrough for the food industry, where waiting more than 24 hours for test results not only adds to the cost of holding stock, but also increases the possibility of contaminated food being released."
CCFRA has extensively tested the Alaska Food Diagnostics methods and its current conclusions reveal:
- The method will detect very low levels of Salmonella and E.coli O157 in a working day
- Its use of both IMS and phage to confer specificity, gives confidence in the test
- Its detection system is sensitive due to the use of pathogen-specific AK (adenylate kinase) amplification step and subsequent ATP bioluminescent
- The measurement of AK enzyme allows detection of living cells only
- The system operates well in a diverse range of foods
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