Food Protection Trends - January/February 2021 - 172

INDUSTRY PRODUCTS
Bio-Rad Laboratories' First Commercially
Available Droplet Digital PCR Solution for
Detecting Pathogenic STEC
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. announces the launch of its
dd-Check STEC Solution for detecting virulence genes from
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Pathogenic
STEC is defined as the presence of both stx1 and stx2, as well
as eae, in one E. coli bacterium. The kit, which harnesses BioRad's Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR) technology, is the first
commercially available test for determining the co-existence of
the STEC virulence genes in a single bacterium, providing rapid
and reliable confirmation of the presence of pathogenic STEC.
Traditional screening tests for pathogenic STEC cannot
distinguish between bacteria carrying both virulence markers
(true positive) and mixed cultures in which these target genes are
present in different bacteria (false positive). After a traditional
screening test, samples must go through laborious culture
methods to confirm results, which can take up to five days.
Since dd-Check STEC Solution accurately determines
the coexistence of stx and eae in the same bacterium without
additional confirmatory steps, it can return results in a few
hours. Decreasing screening and confirmation turnaround
time means products can be released to market faster, which is
especially important for food matrices with limited shelf life.

The dd-Check STEC Solution uses ddPCR technology to
generate thousands of uniform nanoliter-sized droplets. Once
generated, the droplets can be amplified, read, and analyzed
for the colocalization of virulence genes by Bio-Rad Qx IDE
Manager Software. By encapsulating a single bacterium in each
droplet, the dd-Check STEC Kit can distinguish between a true
positive and a negative result.
As regulations classifying STEC as an adulterant continue
to change, the kit provides the flexibility to adapt to new
requirements. If other virulence factors are required for testing,
the workflow can be updated to include additional testing.
Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
+1 800.424.6723
Hercules, CA
www.bio-rad.com

Air Science High Efficiency Laminar Flow Cabinets
The Purair® Laminar Flow Hoods are a series of high
efficiency products designed to protect equipment and other
contents of the work zone from particulates, for applications
sensitive to such contamination.
The series includes Vertical Laminar Flow (VLF) cabinets and
Horizontal Laminar Flow (HLF) cabinets and is ideally suited
for use with non-hazardous contaminants and when flexible
access to the equipment in the work zone is desired. At the heart
of the Purair Laminar Flow Hood product line is the Air Science
Multiplex™ ULPA Filtration Technology that creates a clean work
environment over a wide range of applications.
Features and benefits:
* Available in vertical and horizontal configurations with 6
different widths from 24 " to 96 " .
* The rear wall of vertical flow cabinets is perforated to
reduce work surface turbulence by removing some of the
airflow to the rear.
* High capacity air handling system delivers flow velocity of
0.4-0.5 m/s or 80-100 fpm.
* Purair VLF and HLF hoods have an ULPA filter pressure
gauge to measure filter performance.
* Provides sterile work zone for aeseptic techniques.
* Air cleanliness meets and exceeds ISO Class 4.

172

Food Protection Trends January/February

* All models use ULPA filters (99.999% efficient at particle
sizes between 0.1 and 0.3 microns).
* All models equipped with a stainless steel work surface.
Air Science
+1 800.306.0656
Fort Myers, FL
www.airscience.com

http://www.bio-rad.com http://www.airscience.com

Food Protection Trends - January/February 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Food Protection Trends - January/February 2021