Environmental Listeria testing

An effective Listeria monitoring program can be inhibited by the cost and complexity of the available tests, or by the need to send samples out to an external laboratory. One way to help manage the costs and provide faster feedback is to use an easy, low-cost test that can be used in house.

Listeria isolation Transwab is a simple screening tool for the detection of Listeria contamination in food production areas. The test is self-contained, with an easily seen colour change providing the yes-or-no answer within 24 to 48 h. Swab samples can be collected from areas such as cutting boards, blades, mixers, walls, pipes, drains and personnel.

The swab is simply placed in the tube of straw-coloured semi-solid medium, and is incubated at 37 °C for up to 48 h. The presence of Listeria is indicated by the development of a black-brown precipitate.

Other tests for Listeria in food samples and tests for other pathogens such as Salmonella are also available.