Microbiology

Test kits for the detection of microbiological contamination

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Microbiology

Food contaminated with microorganisms such as bacteria, yeasts, molds or viruses may pose a risk to the consumer. In addition to the detection of pathogenic microorganisms, it is important to monitor typical spoilage organisms in order to reduce losses during production.

Microorganisms are creatures of microscopically small size, mainly organized as single-cell organisms, while some of them may occur multicellularly. They can be found everywhere in the natural environment (water, soil, air, etc.). Microorganisms may naturally be present in foods or on the surfaces of foods (e.g. fresh vegetables) or added as contamination during the manufacturing process of food products (e.g. insufficient hygiene in meat processing).

In food industry, it can be distinguished between different categories of microbiological contamination:

Pathogenic microorganisms are either not allowed at all to occur in the foodstuff or they are limited to a specified number of cells per gram food. These limits differ to the respective food matrix. (For more information please visit the DGHM Website.) If limits are exceeded, this might have tremendous consequences for consumer’s health. Therefore, a zero tolerance per 25 g of food sample is predicted for most of all common pathogens (SalmonellaCampylobacterE. coli, etc.).

In general, you can differentiate between two methods of microbiological testing: food testing and hygiene monitoring / cleaning control.

Detection of microorganisms in the production environment

Microbiological tests for cleaning and hygiene control detect general residues of foods on insufficient cleaned surfaces in the production environment. These residues of nutrients are the basis for growth of microorganisms.

Colony counting in foods or on surfaces can be done using the ready-to-use Compact Dry plates. Compact Dry plates are available for 13 different parameters of analysis. General method base of examinations with Compact Dry is the cultivation of microorganisms on standard nutrient media. The test principle is based on specific chromogenic substrates which are converted into colored products by the metabolism of microorganisms. Beside examination of diluted food samples, Compact Dry is also suited for swab samples from surfaces or incubation of membrane filter samples from liquids.

Residues of foods on surfaces can be detected using protein tests (RIDA®CHECK) or ATP measurements (LuciPac™Pen, LuciPac™ A3 Surface). Determination of proteins roughly describes the stage of contamination by color change of the colorimetric detection reagent. However, the relative amount of ATP (Adenosintriphosphat) or AMP (Adenosinmonophosphat) respectively can be measured very precisely. A special bioluminescence reaction which requires the presence of ATP or AMP is recorded in a special luminometer instrument (Lumitester SMART). Both systems are suited for consistent control of efficiency of cleaning procedures. These controls ensure maintenance of general industrial hygiene. Surfaces which are hygienically clean can reduce the risk of product contaminations.

Compact DryRIDA®CHECKLumitester SMART
Ready-to-use nutrient platesProtein testATP / AMP measurement
Microbial count on surfaces and in diluted food samplesSwab test for the detection of food residues on surfacesDetection of food residues on surfaces
Easy and safeRapid and reliable methodRapid and convenient using LuciPac®Pen and LuciPac™ A3 Surface with integrated swab

Detection of microorganisms in foods

Toxic residues of bacteria in food and beverage samples can be analyzed with test kits for bacterial toxins. Common test formats for microbial food testing are ELISA assaysreal-time PCR tests, nutrient plates and agar plates.

For detection of pathogenic bacteria, immunological based methods (ELISA) are available. RIDASCREEN® assays are based on the sandwich technology, in which the antigen (bacterial surface protein) will be captured in the well of a microplate and detected by adding a second antibody which is marked with a special detection enzyme. The immunological detection requires suitable pre-enrichment procedures depending on the kind of pathogen bacteria.

The detection of bacterial toxins is possible directly from food samples (RIDASCREEN® SET Total and RIDASCREEN® SET A,B,C,D,E) or is used for indirect detection of toxin producing pathogenic bacteria subsequent to appropriate pre-enrichment.

The identification of pathogenic bacteria and viruses can be performed with molecular biological systems, e.g. the highly specific real-time PCR kits of the SureFast® PATHOGEN line. The modular system consists of optimized DNA preparation via spin filter columns and the commonly used TaqMan hydrolysis probe technology linked with FAM dyes for detection. It can be performed with all commonly available types of real-time PCR thermo cyclers. The internal amplification control is integrated into all PLUS kits. The appropriate choice of amplification control dye depends on the cycler type where the reaction will be applied to.

RIDASCREEN®SureFast®Compact Dry
Immunological test (ELISA)Molecular-biological test (real-time PCR)Ready-to-use nutrient plates
For the detection of bacteria and bacterial toxinsFor the detection of bacteria and virusesMicrobial count on surfaces and in diluted food samples
Rapid and reliable methodHighly specific and fast; suitable for all standard PCR thermal cyclersEasy and safe

SureFast® Microbiology

SureFast® real-time PCR tests are efficient and highly specific molecular biological tests for detecting microorganisms. Learn more in our product flyer.

Product portfolio

ProductDescriptionNo. of tests/amountArt. No.
Compact Dry PA

Compact Dry PA is a simple and safe test procedure for the determination and quantification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa counts in foods, cosmetics, water samples or pharmaceutical materials. The ready-to-use plates consist of a special 50 mm diameter …

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HS9491: 100 nutrient plates,
HS9492: 40 nutrient plates,
four plates are packed in one aluminum bag.
HS9491 / HS9492
Compact Dry YMR

Usage of Compact Dry YMR (rapid) is a simple, safe and fast test procedure for determination and quantification of yeasts and molds in foods or raw materials – as well as pharmaceutical raw materials. The ready-to-use plates consist of a special 50 …

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HS9801: 100 nutrient plates,
HS9802: 40 nutrient plates,
four plates are packed in one aluminum bag.
HS9801 / HS9802
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ProductDescriptionNo. of tests/amountArt. No.
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN® Yeast Top fermented low

Real-time PCR-Kit for the detection of top-fermented yeast.

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48 reactions Q152
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN Beer differentiation white

Differentiation of beer spoilage bacteria and yeast in beer and mixed beer drinks. The following bacteria and yeast are differentiated: L. acetotolerans, L. backii, L. brevis/L. brevisimilis/L. parabrevis, L. lindneri, L. casei/ L paracasei, L. …

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12 strips à 8 tubes (one strip per sample, tube 2 contains lyticase) for 12 samples. Q083
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN Beer differentiation low

Differentiation of beer spoilage bacteria and yeast in beer and mixed beer drinks. The following bacteria and yeast are differentiated: L. acetotolerans, L. backii, L. brevis/L. brevisimilis/L. parabrevis, L. lindneri, L. casei/ L paracasei, L. …

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12 strips à 8 tubes (one strip per sample, tube 2 contains lyticase) for 12 samples. Q082
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN Beer yeast and bacteria differentiation white

Differentiation of beer spoilage bacteria and yeast in beer and mixed beer drinks. The following bacteria and yeasts are differentiated: Lactobacilli Pediococci Acetic acid bacteria Enterobacteriaceae Bottom-fermented yeast Top-fermented yeast Wild …

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96 PCR reactions (24 samples)
12 stripes (tubes 2, 3, 5 and 6 contain lyticase)
Q073
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN Beer yeast and bacteria differentiation low

Differentiation of beer spoilage bacteria and yeast in beer and mixed beer drinks. The following bacteria and yeasts are differentiated: Lactobacilli Pediococci Acetic acid bacteria Enterobacteriaceae Bottom-fermented yeast Top-fermented yeast Wild …

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96 PCR reactions (24 samples)
12 stripes
Q072
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN P1 Screening and Hop resistance

Qualitative detection of bacterial contaminations and the hop resistance genes hor A and hor C as genetic markers for beer-spoilage microorganisms in beer and mixed beer drinks.

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50 reactions Q055
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN P1 Screening and Hop resistance low MG

Qualitative detection of bacterial contaminations and the hop resistance genes hor A and hor C as genetic markers for beer-spoilage microorganisms in beer and mixed beer drinks.

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48 reactions Q054
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN P1 Screening and Hop resistance white

Qualitative detection of bacterial contaminations and the hop resistance genes hor A and hor C as genetic markers for beer-spoilage microorganisms in beer and mixed beer drinks.

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48 reactions Q053
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN P1 Screening and Hop resistance low

Qualitative detection of bacterial contaminations and the hop resistance genes hor A and hor C as genetic markers for beer-spoilage microorganisms in beer and mixed beer drinks.

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48 reactions Q052
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN P1 and S. diastaticus Screening

Qualitative detection of bacterial and S. cerevisiae var. diastaticus contaminations in filtrated beer, beer mixes and yeast containing samples.

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50 reactions Q045
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN P1 and S. diastaticus Screening low MG

Qualitative detection of bacterial and S.diastaticus contaminations in filtrated beer and mixed beer drinks and yeast containing samples.

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48 reactions Q044
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN P1 and S. diastaticus Screening white

Qualitative detection of bacterial and S.diastaticus contaminations in filtrated beer and mixed beer drinks.

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48 reactions Q043
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN P1 and S. diastaticus Screening low

Qualitative detection of bacterial and S. cerevisiae var. diastaticus contaminations in filtrated beer, beer mixes and yeast containing samples.

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48 reactions Q042
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN P1 Screening without yeast

Qualitative detection of bacterial contaminations in beer and mixed beer drinks.

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50 reactions Q035
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN P1 Screening without yeast white

Qualitative detection of bacterial contaminations in beer and mixed beer drinks.

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48 reactions Q033
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN P1 Screening without yeast low

Qualitative detection of bacterial contaminations in beer and mixed beer drinks.

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48 reactions Q032
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN P1 Screening

Qualitative detection of bacterial and yeast contaminations in filtrated beer and beer mixes. For products with high amount of yeast use the Screening Kit without yeast detection to find bacterial contaminations more sensitive (Q035).

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50 reactions Q025
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN P1 Screening low MG

Qualitative detection of bacterial and yeast contaminations in filtrated beer and beer mixes.

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48 reactions Q024
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN P1 Screening white

Qualitative detection of bacterial and yeast contaminations in filtrated beer and beer mixes. For products with high amount of yeast use the Screening Kit without yeast detection to find bacterial contaminations more sensitive (Q033).

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48 reactions Q023
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN P1 Screening low

Qualitative detection of bacterial and yeast contaminations in filtrated beer and beer mixes. For products with high amount of yeast use the Screening Kit without yeast detection to find bacterial contaminations more sensitive (Q032).

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48 reactions Q022
SureFast® Escherichia coli Serotype II 4plex

The SureFast® Escherichia coli Serotype II 4plex is a real-time PCR for the direct, qualitative detection and differentiation of specific wzx gene DNA sequences of Escherichia coli O45, wbdl gene DNA sequences of Escherichia coli O111 and ihp1 gene …

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100 reactions F5168
SureFast® Escherichia coli Serotype I 4plex

The SureFast® Escherichia coli Serotype I 4plex is a real-time PCR kit for the direct, qualitative detection and differentiation of specfifc wzx gene DNA sequences of Escherichia coli O121, O26 and O103.

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100 reactions F5167
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN Wine Screening without yeast high

Qualitative detection of Lactobacilli, Pediococci, Oenococcus oeni and acetic acid bacteria in wine and grape must.

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48 reactions Q331
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN Wine Screening high

Qualitative detection and differentiation of bacterial and yeast contaminations in wine and grape must.

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48 reactions Q321
SureFast® Foodborne Pathogens 4plex

The SureFast® Foodborne Pathogens 4plex is a real-time PCR for for the direct, qualitative detection and differentiation of Escherichia coli virulence factors (stx1 [subtype a-d], stx2 [subtype a-g]), Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp.. Each …

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100 reactions F5175
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN Wild yeast 2

Detection of wild yeast in beverages by real-time PCR. The following yeasts are detected: Candida glabrata Candida albicans Candida kefyr Candida intermedia Candida parapsilosis Candida sake Candida tropicalis Naumovozyma dairenensis Pichia …

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50 reactions Q535
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN Wild yeast 1 low

Detection of wild yeast in beverages by real-time PCR. The following yeasts are detected: Dekkera anomala Dekkera bruxellensis Dekkera custersiana Dekkera naardenensis Debaromyces hansenii Hanseniaspora guillermondii Hanseniaspora osmophila …

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48 reactions Q522
SureFast® Salmonella Species/Enteritidis/Typhimurium 4plex

The SureFast® Salmonella Species/Enteritidis/Typhimurium 4plex is a real-time PCR for the direct, qualitative detection and differentiation of Salmonella spp., Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium. Each reaction contains an internal …

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100 reactions F5166
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN P1 Screening high

Qualitative detection of bacterial and yeast contaminations in filtrated beer and beer mixes. For products with high amount of yeast use the Screening Kit without yeast detection to find bacterial contaminations more sensitive (Q031).

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48 reactions Q021
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN Enterobacteriacea spp.

Qualitative multiplex PCR-detection of enterobacteriaceae as indicators for hygiene and postprocessing contaminations. The system contains an integrated inhibition control.

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50 reactions Q145
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN Lactobacillus spp. / Pediococcus spp.

Qualitative detection of Lactobacillus spp. and Pediococcus spp. in beverages.

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48 reactions
tube strips (freeze-dried, incl. IC-DNA)
QTLP0048*
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN P1 Screening without yeast high

Qualitative detection of bacterial contaminations in beer and mixed beer drinks.

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48 reactions
tube strips (freeze-dried, incl. IC-DNA)
Q031
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN Yeast Saccharomyces diastaticus low

Detection of Saccharomyces diastaticus in beverages by real-time PCR.

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48 reactions Q182
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN P1 and S. diastaticus Screening high

Qualitative detection of bacterial and S.diastaticus contaminations in filtrated beer and mixed beer drinks and yeast containing samples.

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48 reactions
tube strips (freeze-dried, incl. IC-DNA and lyticase)
Q041
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN Yeast differentiation high

Differentiation of 12 beer spoilage yeasts in beer and mixed beer drinks. The following yeast are differentiated: Saccharomyces exiguus Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. diastaticus Saccharomyces bayanus / pastorianus Saccharomycodes ludwigii …

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96 reactions for 12 samples (tubes contain lyticase). Q541
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN P1 Screening and Hop resistance high

Qualitative detection of bacterial contaminations and the hop resistance genes hor A and hor C as genetic markers for beer-spoilage microorganisms in beer and mixed beer drinks.

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48 reactions Q051
SureFast®STEC Screening PLUS

The SureFast® STEC Screening PLUS is a real-time PCR for the direct, qualitative detection of DNA sequences of the virulence factors stx1 (subtype a-d) and stx2 (subtype a-g) of Escherichia coli (STEC). Each reaction contains an internal …

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100 reactions F5105
SureFast® Hepatitis E PLUS

SureFast® Hepatitis E PLUS is a real-time RT-PCR for the direct and qualitative detection of hepatitis E virus. The test contains an Internal Control RNA (ICR, consisting of MS2-bacteriophage) as an internal control of sample preparation procedure …

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100 reactions F7142
GEN-IAL® Pichia membranaefaciens

Real-time PCR-Kit for the detection of Pichia membranaefaciens.

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50 reactions Q930
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN Yeast Wickerhamomyces anomalus

Detection of Wickerhamomyces anomalus in beverages (e.g. beer, wine, grape must) by real-time PCR.

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50 reactions Q175
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN® Yeast Top fermented high

Real-time PCR-Kit for the detection of top-fermented yeast.

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48 reactions Q151
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN Yeast Bottom fermented high

Detection of bottom-fermented yeast in beverages by real-time PCR.

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48 reactions Q161
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN Pectinatus / Megasphaera differentiation low

Real-time PCR-Kit for the detection of Pectinatus spp. and Megasphaera spp in beverages.

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48 reactions Q112
GEN-IAL® QuickGEN Beer yeast and bacteria differentiation high

Differentiation of beer spoilage bacteria and yeast in beer and mixed beer drinks. The following bacteria and yeasts are differentiated: Lactobacilli Pediococci Acetic acid bacteria Enterobacteriaceae Bottom-fermented yeast Top-fermented yeast Wild …

Read more
96 PCR reactions (24 samples)
12 stripes
Q071
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