From The Editor | September 9, 2015

Implementing Rapid Pathogen Detection? Consider This…

Sam Lewis

By Sam Lewis

It goes without saying that the methods and technology used for detecting foodborne pathogens have improved tremendously over the years. Conventional cultures of pathogens have given way to rapid detection methods using DNA, RNA, and antibodies and the food industry has been quick to adopt them. But, with so many options currently available to quickly detect pathogens, landing on one rapid detection method that meets all your requirements can seem like a very intimidating task. There is definitely a lot to think about; here are five questions you should ask before implementing a rapid pathogen detection method at your facility.

Is the Method Science-Based?
Evaluating the performance of your rapid pathogen detection method should take a front seat when choosing which one is right for you. Several criteria of the method should be taken into consideration, including:

  • True Negative Rate — What is the likelihood of the method producing a negative result when the collected sample is genuinely positive?
  • True Positive Rate — What is the likelihood of the method producing a positive result when the collected same is genuinely negative?
  • Detection Threshold — What is the lower limit that the method is able to detect of a certain pathogen in a specific environment?
  • Inclusivity — Is the chosen method able to detect multiple strains of a specific pathogen?
  • Exclusivity — Will the chosen detection method create negative test results for pathogens not being test for?

It is important to keep these ideas in mind when choosing your rapid pathogen detection method because not every validation model is the same; each validation model varies a bit in how they use these questions to illustrate the detection method’s performance. AOAC International uses these factors to create one parameter, called Probability of Detection (POD).

Does The Method Meet Your Customer’s Requirements?
Every food product comes with precise specifications regarding how its ingredients are sourced, how those ingredients are handled, shipped, and how the final product is manufactured or processed. With those specifications come microbiological requirements about how many contaminating organisms can be present in a given sample. Your rapid pathogen testing method should reliably give test results within the acceptable parameters of that food product.

Does The Method Follow Validated Matrices?
The rapid detection method that you implement should be able to perform in agreement with its fundamental characteristics. To validate it does, it is important to test your testing method against several matrices. Your customers need to know if your rapid detection method is validated and/or verified against specific matrices. This gives peace of mind to your customers that your products are of high quality and are safe. AOAC has guidelines regarding the different levels of validation.

How Quickly Are Results Received?
Rapid pathogen detection, in its very nature, is a very ambiguous term as rapid can mean different things to different people. Because of this, it is important to implement a rapid detection method that offers you a reliable and realistic turnaround time on test results. Further, when exploring rapid pathogen detection solutions, be careful to not fall into the pitfall of the word rapid as it can simply refer to the time it takes to obtain a sample, not receive its results. Be sure to evaluate the total time of testing — preparation, analysis, reviewing data, creating reports, and approving results — when considering a rapid pathogen detection method.

How Much Does It Cost?
It’s no secret that every business wants to keep its costs low and its profits high. Duh. However, rapid pathogen detection methods come with an array of price tags, and when implementing one in your facility, the price tag should not be the primary factor of the decision. While cost is no doubt an important factor, it is even more important that your rapid pathogen detection method meet the previously mentioned requirements. The right rapid pathogen detection method for your facility will meet each of the mentioned criteria and come with a price tag what won’t prohibit a quick ROI.