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G. M. DUNN, Sales & Marketing, Microbiology International, 5108 Pegasus Ct., Ste. L, Frederick, MD 21704 In food microbiology testing laboratories, sample preparation for isolation of food borne bacteria has been performed using food blenders or Stomachers®. In the late 1990’s the inventor of the Stomacher patented a new concept for food sample preparation called “pulsification”. From the designs in the patent, a new food sample preparation instrument called the Pulsifier has been developed and was launched commercially by Microgen Bioproducts limited in 2003. Instead of crushing the food sample the Pulsifier beats the sample bag very rapidly using an oscillating metal ring. The effect is to generate a great deal of turbulence within the sample resulting in intensive shear forces across the surface of the food particles which drive the bacteria off the food matrix and into the broth. Due to the pulsification mechanism there is minimal breakdown of the food matrix leaving many food samples essentially intact. Pulsified samples are therefore easier to pipette and filter permitting more of the sample to be concentrated and interrogated. The improvement in the samples generated by the Pulsifier is most profoundly demonstrated by the validation study performed to compare the filtration of samples produced by the Pulsifier in comparison with the Stomacher. Additionally, the levels of interfering substances released from the food into the broth are also minimized which has profound implications for rapid detection and identification technologies. The Pulsifier is therefore designed to perform all the routine functions of blenders and Stomachers and validation studies have demonstrated excellent correlation between these methods. Furthermore, the Pulsifier has the potential to facilitate the development of new rapid food microbiology methods such as broth screening by immunoassay, immuno-magnetic separation, molecular detection / identification and ATP bioluminescence. The Pulsifer is available from Microbiology International at 1-800-396-4276 or www.800EZMICRO.com.
Session 69, NEW PRODUCTS & TECHNOLOGIES: Innovations in food safety
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