The BAX® system, developed by DuPont Nutrition & Health, has been approved by the Ministry of Agriculture in Brazil as an Official Reference Method to detect Salmonella in food, water and environmental samples.

An evaluation conducted by the Ministry on over 1,800 samples in five laboratories concluded that the BAX® system was equivalent to the traditional culture method that has been used by the government for the last 40 years.

According to Madasa do Brasil, DuPont Nutrition & Health's local distributor who supported the validation process, "This achievement makes the BAX® system the first and only rapid detection method to obtain Official Reference Method status in Brazil. It also marks the first time the government has announced an Official Reference Method by brand name."

The food regulatory agency for the state of Sao Paulo, along with some of the country's top food companies, began using the BAX® system last year to detect Salmonella. As an Official Reference Method, the BAX® system can now be used throughout Brazil to help ensure the safety of the country's food supply and protect the future of its exports.

The DNA-based BAX® system detects target bacteria in raw ingredients, finished food products and environmental samples. In addition to Salmonella, assays are also available for detecting E. coli O157:H7, Enterobacter sakazakii, Listeria and L. monocytogenes. The automated system is user-friendly and fits easily onto a laboratory bench top. Available since November 2000, hundreds of BAX® systems are already in use by governments, food companies and laboratories around the world.