CHEMILUMINESCENT AND COLORIMETRIC ENZYMATIC ASSAYS FOR THE DETECTION OF PCR-AMPLIFIED SALMONELLA SP PRODUCTS IN MICROPLATES

To improve Salmonella detection, we developed nonradioactive hybridiza tion assays of amplified products from pure Salmonella cultures. Bioti n-labeled PCR products were trapped by internal probes covalently boun d to CovaLink(R)-NH MicroWells(R) and detected by colorimetric or chem iluminescent enzymatic reactions. The sensitivities of colorimetric as says using peroxidase and alkaline phosphatase were similar to those o btained with an ethidium bromide-stained agarose gel; both procedures allow the detection of 50 Salmonella cells. Chemiluminescence was IO-f old more sensitive than colorimetry.