ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOASSAY FOR DETECTION OF LISTERIA-MONOCYTOGENES IN DAIRY-PRODUCTS, SEAFOODS, AND MEATS - COLLABORATIVE STUDY

A collaborative study was conducted to evaluate Listeria-Tek(TM), an e nzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of Listeria mon ocytogenes and other Listeria spp. in foods. The present ELISA method was compared to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration culture method f or detection of L. monocytogenes in dairy products and seafoods and to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service method for detection of L. monocytogenes in meats. Replicate Samples of 6 food types (frankfurters, roast beef, Brie cheese, 2% milk, raw s hrimp, and crab meat) inoculated with L. monocytogenes and uninoculate d control samples were analyzed by the collaborators. L. monocytogenes was identified in 593 samples by the ELISA method and in 574 samples using culture procedures. Identical results were obtained for 506 posi tive samples and 419 negative samples using the ELISA and culture meth ods for an overall agreement rate of 85.6%. The enzyme-linked immunoas say for detection of L. monocytogenes in dairy, seafood, and meat prod ucts has been adopted first action by AOAC INTERNATIONAL.