Background: The Reveal Q+ MAX for Aflatoxin is a lateral flow immunochromatographic test intended for quantitative analysis within 6 min after aqueous extraction. Objective: Work was conducted to validate the performance of the Reveal Q+ MAX for Aflatoxin method in selected corn and nut matrixes. Methods: This method was validated under the requirements of the AOAC Research Institute Performance Tested MethodSM program. Fivematrixes, including corn naturally contaminated with aflatoxin at 0, 5.2, 21.0, 51.6, 103.6, and 282 ppb as well as peanuts, pistachios, walnuts, and almonds spiked at 0, 5, 20, 50, and 300 ppb were analyzed. Results: Average percentage recoveries of the added aflatoxin from the matrixes ranged from 80.8 to 116.9%. Average LOD for all matrixes is 2 ppb and LOQ is 7 ppb. With the exceptionof sample size for almonds, robustness trials demonstrated that deliberate changes to the assay parameters minimally affected the Reveal Q+ MAX assay performance. Finally, stability results from three independently manufactured lots support Reveal Q+ MAX for Aflatoxin performance consistency and shelf-life of 18 months when stored at room temperature. Conclusions: This study appropriatelyvalidates the Performance Tested MethodSM claim forcorn and selected nut matrixes on Reveal Q+ MAX forAflatoxin, an aqueous lateral flow test kit. Highlights: Aqueous lateral flow test kit detects total aflatoxin between 80 to 120% yieldwith an LOD of 2 ppb.

Florida HLB History and present Situation:Huanglongbing (HLB) was first discovered in Florida by a Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services scientist on August 24, 2005, during a routine survey (18). The first discovery was in a pummelo tree in a commercial tropical fruit planting in Florida City, south of Metropolitan Miami, and immediately thereafter in the residential communities within 65 km. Presumptive PCR-positive samples were confirmed by

Background One Broth One Plate for Salmonella (OBOP Salmonella) is a rapid and simple method for detection of Salmonella spp. in food and environmental samples using traditional culture methodology. The method utilizes single-step enrichment followed by plating to a selective/differential, chromogenic agar. Objective The purpose of the validation study was to measure the effectiveness of the OBOP Salmonella method in comparison to reference culture procedures. Methods Performance of the OBOP Salmonella method was compared to that of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Bacteriological Analytical Manual Chapter 5 reference method for queso fresco, smoked salmon, cantaloupe, chocolate, black pepper, chili powder, dry pet food, and sponge samples from a stainless steel surface, or to that of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Microbiology Laboratory Guidebook Chapter 4.10 method for raw ground turkey, chicken carcass rinse, and pasteurized liquid egg. Inclusivity/exclusivity, robustness, and stability/lot-to-lot consistency testing was also performed. Results In the matrix study, there were no statistically significant differences in performance between the OBOP Salmonella and reference methods, as determined by probability of detection analysis (P < 0.05), for any of the matrixes examined. All 104 Salmonella spp. strains produced positive results in inclusivity testing, and all 33 non-salmonellae exclusivity strains tested negative with the OBOP Salmonella method. Conclusions Results of the validation study show that the OBOP Salmonella method is a reliable procedure for detection of Salmonella spp. in select matrixes. The method is simple to perform, requires no specialized equipment, and produces results in as little as 37 h.

A study was conducted to assess the performance of the Reveal(®) 2.0 Group D1 Salmonella lateral flow immunoassay for use in detection of Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) in raw shell eggs and poultry-associated matrixes, including chicken carcass rinse and poultry feed. In inclusivity testing, the Reveal 2.0 test detected all 37 strains of SE tested. The test also detected all but one of 18 non-Enteritidis somatic group D1 Salmonella serovars examined. In exclusivity testing, none of 42 strains tested was detected. The exclusivity panel included Salmonella strains of somatic groups other than D1, as well as strains of other genera of Gram-negative bacteria. In matrix testing, performance of the Reveal 2.0 test was compared to that of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service Microbiology Laboratory Guidebook reference culture procedure for chicken carcass rinse and to that of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Bacteriological Analytical Manual for raw shell eggs and poultry feed. For all matrixes evaluated, there were no significant differences in the ability to detect SE when comparing the Reveal 2.0 method and the appropriate reference culture procedure as determined by probability of detection statistical analysis. The ability of the Reveal 2.0 test to withstand modest perturbations to normal operating parameters was examined in robustness experiments. Results showed that the test can withstand deviations in up to three operating parameters simultaneously without significantly affecting performance. Real-time stability testing of multiple lots of Reveal 2.0 devices established the shelf life of the test device at 16 months postmanufacture.

NeoFilm Yeast and Mold (Y&M), also known as Sanita-kun Yeasts and Molds, is a simple, effective device used for the enumeration of yeasts and molds. It consists of a nonwoven fabric on which a layer of microbial nutrients is deposited in a film. A 1 mL sample homogenate is applied to the membrane and this, in turn, is incubated for 48-72 h at 25°C. Sample homogenates were prepared using two different diluents for customer convenience: phosphate buffered saline (PBS) and 0.1% peptone water. In comparative testing of breaded chicken nuggets, dry pet food, orange juice concentrate, yogurt, and cake mix, there were statistically significant differences in the counts obtained by the NeoFilm Y&M and U.S. Food and Drug Administration Bacteriological Analytical Manual reference culture methods only in the following instances: medium level for orange juice with PBS as diluent and low level for pet food with 0.1% peptone water as diluent, where reference method counts were higher than those of NeoFilm; medium level for cake mix with PBS, and low and medium levels for cake mix with 0.1% peptone water, where NeoFilm produced higher counts than the reference method. In addition to the method comparison study with five matrixes, robustness and stability/lot-to-lot testing were also performed. Results of robustness testing showed no significant effect on results even with perturbation to three assay parameters simultaneously. Results of testing of three lots of devices ranging in age from 2 to 26 months post-manufacture showed no significant differences in performance.