Worthing, UK – 18th August 2011. Seward, the manufacturer and developer of the world leading, patented Stomacher® Paddle Blender range, today highlights the recent use of the Stomacher® 400 Circulator, as part of a reference method, for the assessment of E.coli 0157 rapid testing protocols. In an extensive food safety study1 recently published in the E.U. by the Hygiene Unit of the Department of Public Health and Infectious Disease, Sapienza University of Rome, enzyme linked fluorescent assays (ELFA) and PCR were compared with the standard culture technique applying ISO 16654:2001 for E. coli 0157 detection in raw and cooked meat samples. The Stomacher 400 Circulator was used to prepare and homogenise samples in TSB with novobiocin for all testing protocols.
The study revealed that the new rapid methods are equivalent to the original direct culture technique. The team at the Rome-based facility concluded that the speed of testing of the rapid methods over the culturing techniques will be of great benefit to the public. Several days can be saved between sampling and detection, allowing a quick response to outbreaks.
The Stomacher 400 Circulator has a proven track record of excellent organism recovery from meat samples, with reduced sample debris ensuring minimal interference with subsequent sample processes. The quality of the sample is key to the performance of all rapid methods. It is for this reason that the Stomacher 400 Circulator is the most referenced laboratory blender in comparative studies between rapid microbiological detection methods and traditional reference techniques.
For further information on Seward’s Stomacher® range and other sample preparation products, please visit: www.seward.co.uk.
Reference:
1) Detection of E. Coli 0157 in raw and cooked: comparison of conventional direct culture method and enzyme linked fluorescent assay (ELFA). Maria De Giusti, Daniela Tufi, Caterina Aurigemma, Angela Del Cimmuto, Federica Trinti, Alice Mannocci, Antonio Boccia. Hygiene Unit, Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome. Italian Journal of Public Health (2011), Vol 8, Number 1.
About Seward Limited - www.seward.co.uk
Seward manufactures the world leading range of Stomacher® paddle blenders and Stomacher® accessories used in sample preparation for microbiological analyses. The company has been manufacturing and developing the world renown and patented Stomacher® Lab Blender for 40 years. The original and still regarded as the best, over 8 million food samples a day are prepared on Stomacher® 400 paddle blender units around the world.
In addition to sample preparation for food safety analyses, within the bioscience market the new developments of the Stomacher® 80 and micro 80 are proving invaluable for safe and efficient sample processing. The Stomacher® 3500 has established itself as the instrument of choice for preparing samples for the new pathogen test protocols requiring jumbo size samples.
The company is based in Worthing, West Sussex, UK with subsidiaries in Long Island, N.Y., USA and Singapore. All Seward machine products are manufactured within the UK and 1 of its 3 worldwide Stomacher® bag manufacturing operations is also UK-based. This ensures control of quality and price to deliver excellent value to global trading partners and laboratory customers.
Seward Limited continues to develop the product range, now with 3 patents to its credit. Stomacher® is the most highly referenced brand name in food safety and life science sample preparation in scientific publications. The company also assists customers with method development through reference searches and sample evaluations within its own development laboratory.
The original and still the best. The Stomacher® - a Seward product trade name.
Seward contact details:
Europe and ROW: +44 (0) 1903 823077; info@seward.co.uk
US & Canada: +1 631 750 5660; info@sewardusa.com
Asia, Pacific and Middle East: +65 67447811; info@sewardinternational.com
