Neogen launches NeoSeek™ Salmonella serotyping service

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Jul 27, 2015, 08:45 ET

LANSING, Mich., July 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Neogen Corporation (Nasdaq: NEOG) today announced the development of a detection and identification technology that provides DNA-specific test results for pathogenic serotypes of Salmonella.

Neogen's new NeoSeek™ pathogen DNA identification method for Salmonella can provide genomic-based serotypes (e.g., Salmonella enterica Enteritidis and Salmonella enterica Heidelberg) in as little as 72 hours from suspected Salmonella positive isolates. The serotypes identified by the NeoSeek service include all of the "top 30" Salmonella serotypes identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as being the leading causes of human Salmonella infections since the agency instituted its national surveillance program for Salmonella in 1962.

"The rapid detection and identification of specific strains, or serotypes, of Salmonella can be critical to preventing foodborne illness, or rapidly responding to an existing outbreak," said Ed Bradley, Neogen's vice president for Food Safety. "NeoSeek's Salmonella serotyping service provides a much quicker, definitive alternative to the conventional biochemical identification of Salmonella serotypes from presumptively positive Salmonella isolates."

The NeoSeek Salmonella serotyping method was developed through a close collaboration with Dr. Jean Guard of the USDA's Agricultural Research Service. The process enables seamless identification of Salmonella serotypes from Next Generation DNA sequencing data generated by Neogen's GeneSeek genomics laboratory in Lincoln, Neb.

The new laboratory service adds to Neogen's existing NeoSeek STEC confirmation service, which detects and identifies seven Shiga toxin-producing E. coli strains — O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, O145, and O157. The USDA issued a letter of no objection for the use of the NeoSeek confirmatory method, and stated the NeoSeek service is comparable to the reference method, FSIS MLG 5B.02.

Neogen Corporation develops and markets products dedicated to food and animal safety. The company's Food Safety Division markets dehydrated culture media, and diagnostic test kits to detect foodborne bacteria, natural toxins, food allergens, drug residues, plant diseases and sanitation concerns. Neogen's Animal Safety Division is a leader in the development of animal genomics along with the manufacturing and distribution of a variety of animal healthcare products, including diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, veterinary instruments, wound care and disinfectants.