Committee on microbiology and extraneous materials

Journal of AOAC International, Jan-Feb, 2008 by Wayne A. Ziemer, Melissa C. Newman, Todd Marrow, James R. Agin, Michael H. Brodsky, James E. Brown, Joseph L. Ferreira, Yvonne M. Hale, Walter E. Hill, Charles E. Pixley, Rice Daniel, Roxanne Shively, Kevin J. Vought, Robert A. LaBudde, Robert W. Phillips, Paul Wehling

Committee Actions

During the past year, 2 committees have spun off from Committee H: Committee L (Methods Committee on Biological Threat Agents) and Committee M (Methods Committee on Antimicrobial Efficacy Testing.) The sole responsibility of Committee H at the present time is food and dairy microbiology.

There was discussion at the Annual Meeting of the current restructuring proposal of the Official Methods Board (OMB). At the present time, Committee H will exist until current methods that are being reviewed are completed. Approximately 19 methods are in the review process. New methods may be assigned to the committee at the discretion of the new OMB. There are many changes that will be instituted over the next year for how methods will be processed by AOAC.

A proposal was presented on possible changes in The Guidelines for Validation of Qualitative and Quantitative Food Microbiology Methods--Appendix X. There was discussion on changes needed in the guidelines and if proposed changes will be of benefit. It was requested that more detailed examples of the proposal be submitted to the committee to help in understanding the proposed system.

The following method was recommended for withdrawal of Official Final Action: 2000.07 Modified 5-9-01, Salmonella in Foods, Rapid Colorimetric TECRA UNIQUE Test (3M TECRA Salmonella IC)

The following methods were recommended for Final Action:

(1) 2005.03 Detection and Confirmed Quantitation of Coliforms and E. coli in Foods, SimPlate Coliform and E. coli Color Indicator

(2) 2005.04 Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Selected Foods, Assurance GDS[TM] for E. coli O157:H7

(3) 2005.05 Shigatoxin genes, from E. coli O157:H7, in Selected Foods, Assurance GDS[TM] for Shigatoxin genes. Study Director Philip T. Feldsine, BioControl Systems, Inc., 12822 SE 32nd St, Bellevue, WA 98005, Tel: 425-603-1123, Fax: 425-603-0070, E-mail: ptf@biocontrolsys.com.

(4) 996.10 Modified 9/21/00, Assurance Enzyme Immunoassay for the Detection of Escherichia coli O157: H7 in Ground Beef

(5) 996.09 Visual Immunoprecipitate Assay for the Analysis of Ground Beef for Escherichia coli O157:H7

(6) 2004.02 VIDAS Listeria monocytogenes II (LMO2) Immunoassay for the Detection of Listeria monocytogenes in Foods

(7) 2004.06 (formerly 996.06) VIDAS Listeria (LIS) Immunoassay for the Detection of Listeria Species in Foods Using Demi-Fraser and Fraser Enrichment Broths

General Referee Reports

Food Microbiology, Nondairy, Thomas S. Hammack,

U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 5100 Paint

Branch Pkwy, College Park, MD 20740-3835, Tel:

301-436-2010, Fax: 301-436-2644, E-mail:

Thomas. Hammack@fda.hhs.gov

(1) 2000.07 Modified 5-9-01, Salmonella in Foods, Rapid Colorimetric TECRA UNIQUE Test (3M TECRA Salmonella IC): Study Director Ian Garthwaite, 3M Microbiology, 13 Rodborough Rd, Frenchs Forest, NSW 2086, Australia, Tel: 61(0)-2-8977-3032, Fax: 61(0)-2-9453-3422, E-mail: ian.garthwaite@mmm.com. The TECRA UNIQUE Salmonella test was approved First Action Method 2000.07. This study goal was to validate a format change of the UNIQUE product. The original 3 food study was broadened after a full claims review when TECRA was acquired by 3M. These studies showed the method to be not as consistently productive as the BAM method for a number of foods. Therefore, 3M has chosen to withdraw AOAC OMA approval for this method. Repeal method.

(2) Determination of Escherichia coli in Flesh Foods Using a Fisual Immunoassay with a Modified Culture Procedure (3M TECRA E. coli VIA): Study Director Ian Garthwaite. Resource allocations and integration of TECRA International into 3M have limited the progression of this study through the precollaborative study phase. Plans are to expand this study to incorporate immunocapture of the target organism. Continue study.

(3) Staphylococcus aureus in Foods, 3M TECRA STAPH AUREUS Visual Immunoassay: Study Director Ian Garthwaite. A precollaborative methods comparison study was conducted to compare the TECRA Staphylococcus aureus visual immunoassay (VIA), which incorporates enrichment in the proprietary enrichment medium TECRA Staphylococcus growth medium (TSGM) and the STAVIA Immunoassay with AOAC reference Method 975.55. The precollaborative study of this method was approved by the Methods Committee. A collaborative study on this method was conducted using a geographically widespread community of collaborators. Unfortunately, organism die-off was seen in the samples sent outside Australia. Continue study.

(4) 995.22 Modified 2/6/01, Listeria spp., 3M TECRA Visual Immunoassay for Environmental Surfaces: Study Director Ian Garthwaite. This method was approved First Action in 1995 and Final Action in 1998 for the detection of Listeria spp. in dairy foods, seafoods, poultry, meats (except raw ground chuck), and leafy vegetables. 3M Microbiology plan to extend the applicability of the method to detect Listeria spp. on environmental surfaces. The precollaborative study has been completed, and the protocol for the collaborative study has been approved by the Methods Committee. There has been difficulty in initiating the collaborative study for environmental samples. This will be addressed. Continue study.