Rapid monoclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of Listeria in food products.

A rapid diagnostic test for the detection of Listeria in food products has been created. This test, known as Listeria-Tek, uses 2 monoclonal antibodies specific for Listeria in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) format. The test requires only 40 h of broth enrichment with no culturing on solid media. It is extremely simple to perform and easy to interpret, and is at least as sensitive and accurate as the best of the culture methods. The test can be used with dairy products, meat products, and environmental samples. The ELISA test is safely performed on the open bench of the laboratory because no live cultures, no radioactivity, no phage, etc., are necessary. There is no need for special licenses or reserved laboratory space, and no waste disposal problems are encountered. If necessary, one technician could easily perform hundreds of assays per day. A printed data sheet is available for permanent records.