Oxoid says that the two new rapid latex agglutination tests can be performed from selective culture, providing clearly visible results in less than 30 seconds.

The presumptive identification provided by these kits enables negative samples to be eliminated rapidly. This allows further identification procedures to be targeted to presumptive positive samples only, reducing the time and cost involved.

Oxoid says that no special training is required to perform the tests or interpret the results. Suspect colonies are simply mixed with latex reagent on a reaction slide. The latex particles, which have been coated with specific antibodies, will visibly agglutinate in the presence of the target organism, thus indicating a positive result.

In the absence of target organism the latex particles remain in smooth suspension.

These new additions to the Oxoid range of diagnostic reagents expands the number of food safety products targeted specifically at the food industry. The company now manufactures tests for identifying a broad range of foodborne pathogens, food spoilage and indicator organisms, yeasts and moulds.

The launch of the two new tests follows the company's recent acquisition of the prepared media and diagnostics business of Medvet Science. Oxoid and Medvet Science have worked together for a number of years, manufacturing and supplying prepared media and diagnostic products.