APPLICATION OF AN ELISA FOR THE ROUTINE DETECTION OF SALMONELLA IN CHICKEN

A system for detecting a wine range of Salmonella serotypes, based on a single non-selective culture followed by a sandwich ELISA, was devel oped. The specificity of the monoclonal antibodies used replaces the c hemical selectivity of normal enrichment broths, and the new method of fers a considerable time saving. It was compared with the standard mic robiological method for the detection of Salmonella in retail chicken samples in routine diagnostic laboratories. The results showed over 90 % agreement for the ELISA between three laboratories, and, when cultur e false-negatives were considered, 80% agreement for Salmonella detect ion between the new method and the conventional microbiological proced ure.