Oxoid has launched a new culture method for the improved isolation, differentiation and identification of Salmonella species from foods. The Oxoid Salmonella Rapid Culture Method has been developed to ensure excellent recovery of Salmonella, providing presumptive positive colonies in just 42 hours - some 24 to 48 hours earlier than by traditional culture methods.

The Oxoid Salmonella Rapid Culture Method combines the features of two Oxoid products - ONE Broth-Salmonella and Oxoid Salmonella Chromogenic Medium Mark II (OSCM II). ONE Broth-Salmonella is a highly nutritious enrichment broth containing a specific growth promoter to ensure excellent recovery of stressed and damaged Salmonella cells, whilst inhibiting the growth of competing micro-organisms. This highly effective medium allows enrichment to be performed in a single 18 hour incubation, eliminating the need for a secondary enrichment.

Following enrichment, the sample is plated onto OSCM II - the first in a new class of chromogenic culture media to untilise Inhibigen™ technology. This new technology improves the recovery and differentiation of Salmonella by selectively reducing background flora, allowing clearer visualisation of target colonies in mixed cultures. Chromogens within the medium then enable differentiation of Salmonella colonies (bright purple) from any remaining organisms that are able to grow, such as Klebsiella and Enterobacter, thus reducing the number of false-positives requiring confirmation.

In a recent evaluation, OSCM II demonstrated enhanced sensitivity and specificity when compared to traditional Salmonella culture media (XLD and HE) and a commercially available chromogenic medium [1].

Oxoid's new Salmonella Rapid Culture Method allows presumptive positive Salmonella colonies to be obtained with minimal delay and without the need for specialised equipment, making this method accessible to every food microbiology laboratory.

Cheryl Mooney, industrial applications manager, Oxoid, commented, "The identification of Salmonella contamination is a critical function in food microbiology laboratories and delays can have an enormous impact on the efficiency and economy of businesses. Not only will the Oxoid Salmonella Rapid Culture Method save time by providing presumptive positive colonies in just 42 hours, but it also saves on resources by reducing the number of colonies requiring confirmation."

For further information about the Oxoid Salmonella Rapid Culture Method, please contact Oxoid using the contact details at the top of this page.

References:
[1]. Data on file (Oxoid).