Alden introduces innovative, AOAC RI PTM certified #042401
microbe testing solution – The Alden S1 for E. coli O157
KANSAS
CITY, Mo., July 15, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A suspended
simultaneous sandwich assay (SSSA) is the breakthrough in food
safety and quality testing the industry has been waiting for, and
it fits in the palm of your hand. Alden combines the power of
innovation with the "internet of things" to deliver a new pathway
for ensuring food safety, quality, and compliance.
This test marks a pivotal moment for the
food supply chain because we've decreased time-to-result to a few
hours.
Safeguarding meat and poultry products for consumers is time
sensitive. Traditional testing modalities take several days to
produce results. Alden – a multinational, Missouri-based biotechnology company –
recognized the need for a faster, simpler testing method. They will
showcase their company's next-generation diagnostic testing
solutions at the Annual Meeting of the International Association
for Food Processing (IAFP) July 14-17
in Long Beach, Calif.
While polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing is currently the
most commonly used method for detecting the presence of pathogens
like E. coli, the innovators at Alden have created a novel,
bead-based testing method that functions differently – and is just
the beginning of a new gold industry standard for microbe testing
in food. Third-party laboratory studies deem the Alden platform to
work "as well as or better" than PCR.
"This test marks a pivotal moment for the food and agriculture
supply chain because we've decreased time-to-result from a few days
to a few hours – so we're saving our customers time, lowering their
costs, improving their operations, and dramatically empowering them
to manage and mitigate risk within their operations," said
Elijah Sharpe, founder and chief
executive officer. "Our testing platform is the first of its kind,
and it's the ideal solution for food industry professionals who
need to spend less time analyzing results and more time taking
action."
The AOAC Research Institute Performance Tested
MethodsSM (PTM) Program recently certified Alden's
S1 for E. coli O157 testing method for E. coli O157
(including H7) detection in ground beef (375 g and 25 g) and beef
trim (375 g) (PTM #042401). Comparing the SSSA approach to the
USDA/FSIS Microbiology Laboratory Guidebook (5C.03) and the ISO
Technical Standard 13136:2012 PCR reference methods, the PTM
program found "no statistically significant difference from the
reference methods."
Those are welcomed results for meat processors and
consumers who face the consequences of undetected outbreaks.
Several additional microbe tests are on track for PTM validation in
the coming months, including Listeria, Salmonella,
Campylobacter, and others.
Unlike legacy testing systems such as PCR, enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and lateral flow testing, Alden is
safest for use within a production environment because personnel,
product, and equipment have zero risk of being exposed to
potentially harmful control pathogens.
Alden's use of SSSA technology involves a small sample volume
being placed into the cuvette containing the SSSA. What follows is
a new scientific approach using nanoparticles, proprietary
coatings, and custom ratios to simultaneously capture and detect
targeted bacteria, resulting in a visible change.
Alden's innovative technology is available via offsite
laboratory testing and Alden's affordable and highly portable
onsite testing solution. Either way, customers have access to an
online platform that digitizes results and provides much-needed
transparency into every step of the testing workflow.
According to Austin Gray, Alden's
chief operating officer, the platform empowers businesses to ensure
operational continuity, maintain product safety, and comply with
stringent regulatory standards.
"At Alden, we've made it our mission to support a safer,
healthier world by modernizing the way we test for dangerous
microbes in the food we eat," said Gray. "It's incredibly exciting
to bring these new technologies to life, and we look forward to
sharing more about it in person at the IAFP Annual Meeting."
For more information, go to alden.tech/discover or visit booth
549 at the IAFP 2024 Annual Meeting to see the Alden solutions in
person.
About Alden
From large meat processing plants and agricultural centers to
grocery chains, restaurants, and more, Alden's microbe testing
solutions serve a wide range of industry needs. Headquartered in
Kansas City, Missouri, Alden
strategists and scientists have developed a revolutionary new
method of microbe testing, a turnkey device for efficient onsite
testing, and the industry's only all-in-one platform for true
end-to-end testing with the fastest turnaround times. Alden's
superior, bead-based method and technologies are accredited by the
Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC), validated by
MRI Global, and supported through grants from the United States
Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and
Agriculture (NIFA). Learn more at alden.tech.
About AOAC Research Institute
The AOAC Research Institute (AOAC RI) is a division of AOAC
INTERNATIONAL that promotes and conducts activities to help
develop, improve, and validate proprietary testing
methods. The AOAC RI Performance Tested
MethodsSM (PTM) program helps companies, and
their customers safeguard their businesses, mitigate risk, and
protect consumers through trusted, reliable testing methods and
products.
To view the PTM certified entry for the Alden S1 for E. coli
O157 method and to download the PTM certificate #042401, PTM
Validated Methods.
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SOURCE Alden