BIOTECON Diagnostics successfully finishes MicroVal certification

BIOTECON Diagnostics, one of the leading developers of rapid micro methods for the food industry, is the first company that has successfully MicroVal validated a real-time PCR system. Both of BIOTECON Diagnostics' foodproof® Enterobacteriaceae plus E. sakazakii Detection Kits have been certified by Lloyd's Register Nederland B.V. (Rotterdam, Netherlands), as well as Reagent D and the foodproof® StarPrep One Kit.

"24 external laboratories participated in the studies, including Nestlé, Eurofins, FrieslandCampina and SGS Germany", says Alois Schneiderbauer, Chief Business Officer (CBO) of BIOTECON Diagnostics, "we thank our customers for the good cooperation".

With the globally recognized MicroVal certificate BIOTECON Diagnostics has set the stage for the global distribution of these products, which have been developed primarily for the quality-conscious baby food segment.

"With the achievement of this milestone we accomplish the increasing quality demands in the baby food industry, documenting our aim to cooperate with food producers in order to make food safer", says Kornelia Berghof-Jäger, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BIOTECON Diagnostics.

To meet the desire for a better and faster detection system for Cronobacter spp. (formerly E. sakazakii), BIOTECON Diagnostics has developed the foodproof® Enterobacteriaceae plus E. sakazakii Detection Kit and MicroVal validated it in cooperation with Nestlé, the world's biggest food producer.

Within 24 hours the foodproof® Enterobacteriaceae plus E. sakazakii Detection Kit simultaneously detects all members of the genus Cronobacter spp. (formerly known as Enterobacter sakazakii) which are highly pathogenic especially for babies, as well as the indicator organisms of the family Enterobacteriaceae. Thus, the method follows Regulation EC No. 2073/2005 of the European Commission which has been in force since January 2006.

Both Enterobacteriaceae and Cronobacter spp. frequently occur in milk powder used for the preparation of infant formulae and follow up formulae.

Source: BIOTECON Diagnostics GmbH