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Published on: March 10, 2020
USDA FSIS, FDA BAM, and ISO culture methods BD BBL CHROMagar O157 media
Vicki Ritter1, Susan Kircher, Nancy Dick
1BD Diagnostic Systems, 250 Schilling Circle, Hunt Valley, MD 21030, USA.
Journal of AOAC International
|September 1, 2009
Summary
BBL CHROMagar O157 media effectively detects Escherichia coli O157:H7 in raw ground beef and apple cider. This chromogenic medium demonstrated 100% sensitivity and specificity, matching established methods.
Area of Science:
- Food Microbiology
- Diagnostic Media Development
Background:
- Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a significant foodborne pathogen.
- Accurate detection methods are crucial for food safety, particularly in raw ground beef and unpasteurized apple cider.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the performance of BBL CHROMagar O157 media (CO) for detecting E. coli O157:H7.
- To compare CO's efficacy against standard reference methods (FDA BAM, USDA FSIS, ISO).
Main Methods:
- Comparative study using 180 food samples (raw ground beef, unpasteurized apple cider).
- E. coli O157:H7 recovery on CO was assessed against FDA BAM, USDA FSIS, and ISO reference media.
- Inclusivity and exclusivity testing with known isolates.
Main Results:
- CO achieved 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity across all tested food matrices.
- No false negatives were observed.
- Method agreement with reference methods was high (85-100%), with CO often detecting more positives.
Conclusions:
- BBL CHROMagar O157 media is a reliable and effective tool for E. coli O157:H7 detection.
- CO offers comparable or superior performance to established reference methods for these food types.
