Liquid crystal technology – commonly used to make laptop or TV displays – could help rapidly detect foodborne pathogens and other contaminants in poultry or other meat products.
“Liquid crystal (LC) is an organic substance that has properties between those of a liquid and those of solid crystals. When LC transforms from a liquid to a solid, the substance forms a very orderly geometric state,” Jim Bruce, the CEO of Crystal Diagnostics, explained. “Liquid crystal technology is the manipulation of the different phases of the liquid crystal to form a desired outcome, whether that be for science or for other applications like a TV display.”
More than 48 million Americans get sick from a foodborne illness each year and 3,000 people die as a result, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates. Poultry meat that is contaminated with pathogens, chemicals or toxins is the underlying cause of 19% of deaths attributed to foodborne illnesses.
How it works
“When a liquid crystal becomes a solid, the orderly geometric state makes identification of microscopic foreign matter (like pathogens) fast, simple and reliable. The liquid crystal is able to amplify the signal of a target pathogen within the sample,” Bruce added.
Crystal Diagnostics recently announced that they have received their second patent for the use of proprietary liquid crystal technology to rapidly and accurately detect foodborne pathogens. The technology will be incorporated into a fully-automated, high-throughput rapid pathogen detection platform that will be released to the market in April of this year. According to the company, this technology will greatly improve the nation’s confidence in the safety of our food supply.
“Our system is accredited for use in the poultry industry for E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria. We are also well into the development on a very impactful Campylobacter test for the poultry industry,” Bruce said.
“The platform is designed for laboratories who conduct mid to high volume pathogen testing. Often, these laboratories are part of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) program. In some cases, this pathogen testing is conducted at a third-party testing lab that is contracted by the broiler producer.”
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