InstantLabs' Salmonella Species Food Safety Test Kit Awarded Performance-Tested Methods(SM) Certification from AOAC Research Institute for Use in Multiple Common Food Matrices

BALTIMORE, June 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- InstantLabs Medical Diagnostics Corporation (InstantLabs®), developer of the portable Hunter Accelerated Real-Time PCR® system, today announced that its Salmonella Species Food Safety Kit has been certified as AOAC Performance-Tested(SM) (AOAC PTM Cert. No. 031202) by the AOAC Research Institute (AOAC-RI) across four key food matrices. The kit has been certified for the identification of Salmonella in foods that are among the most common carriers of the potentially lethal foodborne pathogen; whole chicken, ground chicken, ground beef and lettuce. The Company's Salmonella Food Safety Kit previously received PTM certification for the detection of Salmonella in grains (see April 3, 2012 news release). The award follows independent laboratory studies conducted by Food Safety Net Services (FSNS). The AOAC Performance Tested(SM) certification mark is widely recognized by a variety of organizations and government agencies and is awarded to products that have passed unbiased and rigorous evaluation.

"The use of our Salmonella assay and Hunter Real-Time PCR® system allows poultry and beef processors and produce growers to confidently conduct gold-standard food safety testing at their own facilities, rather than sending samples out to external labs for analysis," said Steven Guterman, Chief Executive Officer of InstantLabs. "We are pleased to offer this new level of portability and efficiency to testing for Salmonella and additional pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes."

Salmonella is a genus of bacteria that are a major cause of foodborne illnesses throughout the world. The bacteria are generally transmitted to humans through the consumption of contaminated food, thus improved detection of contaminated food can reduce the incidence of illness. Salmonellosis constitutes a major public health burden and represents a significant cost in many countries. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Salmonella ranks first among pathogens resulting in domestically acquired foodborne illness as well as death. Millions of cases are reported worldwide every year and the disease is responsible for the loss of thousands of lives.

InstantLabs' Salmonella Species Test Kit, designed for use at the point of need, aims to improve the process for detection of the relevant dangerous bacteria in food products. The assay enables the rapid and accurate detection of certain Salmonella serotypes. The test kit is available to the food industry and import/export organizations worldwide, for whom the ability to deliver the highest quality food products in the shortest possible window of time is crucial to public health and overall success of the organization. In addition to its Salmonella Species Test Kit, InstantLabs has food safety test kits available for Listeria species, Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli 0157 and porcine DNA detection. A complete E. coli test kit that addresses the new USDA FSIS regulations will be available shortly.

Today's testing methods for dangerous and unintended organisms in food products do not routinely take advantage of gold-standard real-time PCR technology. The use of this technology has been limited by barriers including the need for specialized staff, space requirements, complexity, time and cost. InstantLabs removes these barriers with its fully-integrated, compact and affordable Hunter Accelerated-PCR system, requiring only minimal space and basic training to enable real-time PCR testing at the points-of-need. This innovative system increases efficiency while assuring food safety.

Food Safety Net Services (FSNS) is a national network of ISO 17025 accredited testing laboratories. Recognized as a one-stop food safety resource, the company's primary services include a strong experience base in consulting, validation, challenge studies, on-site sampling programs and development of proficiency programs. FSNS also provides expert technical resources that ensure food safety and quality programs deliver the critical information needed to continually improve process controls and measurement systems.  For more information, visit www.fsns.com.

The AOAC Research Institute (AOAC-RI) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AOAC INTERNATIONAL (AOAC) that administers the AOAC Performance Tested Methods(SM) program. AOAC is a globally recognized, independent, not-for-profit standards developing association founded in 1884. AOAC serves the analytical community by engaging industry stakeholders to develop voluntary consensus standards for methods and providing analytical methods that demonstrate confidence in analytical results. For more information, visit www.aoac.org.

InstantLabs® is the developer of the Hunter system, a fully-integrated, portable and affordable real-time PCR (RT‐PCR) device that was designed for use at point-of-need locations. The company is focused on the food safety and medical diagnostics markets - areas where accurate and rapid test results can make a consequential difference in health outcomes. User-friendly, Wi-Fi and network-enabled, the Hunter system makes possible broader and mobile use of gold-standard PCR diagnostic testing. InstantLabs aims to expand the addressable market for the Hunter Accelerated-PCR system, wherever there is a critical or beneficial need for quick and reliable detection of potentially dangerous pathogens. InstantLabs is a privately held company founded in 2008, with headquarters in Baltimore, MD. For more information, visit www.instantlabs.com.

SOURCE InstantLabs