When it comes to ready-to-eat (RTE) foods, Listeria monocytogenes is the one organism you can’t afford to miss. In Australia, most RTE foods that can support the growth of Listeria must meet the stringent benchmark of “not detected in 25 g.” For foods that don’t support growth, the limit is ≤100 cfu/g—but only after you’ve proved growth won’t occur over shelf life. That’s the law of the land, and it’s non-negotiable.
On top of product testing, regulators emphasise strong environmental monitoring—think routine swabs on food-contact and adjacent surfaces—to detect Listeria before it reaches your product. Practical guidance from Australian authorities recommends at least five environmental swabs per month in RTE areas, escalating to weekly if you find a positive. Swabbing plans should target both Zone 1 (food contact) and Zone 2 (adjacent) surfaces.
A laboratory in your hands
Microlab ‘Listeria’ is a compact, disposable, AOAC approved test that integrates enrichment, immunochemical detection and final inactivation in a single, hermetically closed device. It’s purpose-built for on-site screening without a full laboratory, reducing handling steps and minimising contamination risk. The kit uses a lateral-flow immunoassay targeting p60, a well-characterised Listeria cell-wall protein expressed across the genus—giving you a robust yes/no result after enrichment.
At-a-glance specs (Microlab ‘Listeria’):
Scope: Listeria monocytogenes (qualitative)
Detection limit: Absence in 25 g food or 100 cm² surface area
Assay time: ~48 hours at 37 °C (enrichment + LFIA read)
Readout: Visual (lateral-flow)
Shelf life: 12 months
Format: Self-contained, final inactivation step for safe disposal
Why 25 g and 100 cm²?
Australia’s microbiological criteria set the 25 g product standard. For environments, common practice and standards guidance recognise 100 cm² as a meaningful surface area for swabbing/sponging when you need a presence/absence call.
Built for Australian compliance workflows
1) Slot it into your EMP (Environmental Monitoring Program).
Use Microlab ‘Listeria’ as your routine, risk-based screen on slicers, conveyors, pack-off tables, drains and hard-to-clean niches. Start with ≥5 sites per month across Zone 1 and Zone 2 and rotate sites to ensure coverage. If you get a hit, follow your corrective-action plan and increase swabbing to weekly until you achieve three consecutive negatives.
2) Screen fast, escalate smart.
Microlab gives a clear screen after enrichment at 37 °C. Any presumptive positive on a food-contact surface or product should be confirmed by a NATA-accredited laboratory using an approved method (e.g., ISO 11290). Many Australian regulators and industry guidelines explicitly direct product testing and confirmatory work to NATA-accredited labs.
3) Document decisively.
Because Microlab is closed-system and simple to interpret, it’s straightforward to document and trend results in your HACCP/FSQMS, supporting verification under Standard 1.6.1 and your site’s Listeria control plan.
Why this matters (and why now)
Listeriosis remains rare but severe, with fatality rates reported in the 15–30% range among vulnerable groups. Australia’s 2018 rockmelon incident underscored the stakes—22 cases, seven deaths and one miscarriage—and prompted renewed attention to EMP rigour well beyond produce. For RTE meats, seafood, dairy and salads, early environmental detection is one of the most effective risk-reduction levers you control every day.
The science in brief: p60-based LFIA
The Microlab device employs immunochromatography against p60, a conserved Listeria antigen (also called Iap). After enrichment to allow any stressed cells to recover, the test line captures antigen-antibody complexes and displays a visual band if Listeria is present. The self-contained design lets you incubate, develop and inactivate the sample without opening the device—cutting cross-contamination risks and keeping operators safe.
Independent validation keeps improving
Third-party validations help manufacturers and regulators trust rapid tests. Microlab ‘Listeria’ received AOAC Performance Tested Methods (PTM) certification in August 2025 (PTM No. 062502), reflecting successful review of method performance claims. Microlab Salmonella was certified earlier in 2024 (PTM No. 122401). These recognitions support the use of Microlab within Australian programs that prefer independently verified in-house methods.
How to deploy Microlab ‘Listeria’ on site
Risk-map your zones. Identify food-contact and adjacent sites most likely to harbour moisture, nutrients and low temperatures—prime conditions for Listeria persistence.
Standardise your sampling area. For environmental checks, target ~100 cm² when practical (e.g., a 10×10 cm template for flat surfaces), or thoroughly swab irregular surfaces and document the actual area sampled.
Run Microlab per IFU. Enrich at 37 °C ~48 h, perform the lateral-flow read, record the result, and inactivate within the device.
Act on results. Negative: record and trend. Presumptive positive: deep-clean, intensify weekly swabbing, hold at-risk product, and seek NATA confirmation (ISO 11290 or equivalent).
Why Australian producers choose Vendart + Microlab
Compliance-aligned: Supports Standard 1.6.1 criteria and EMP expectations with simple on-site screening.
Practical and safe: Hermetic device with final inactivation step; minimal operator handling.
Proven science: p60-targeted LFIA backed by AOAC PTM certifications across the Microlab range.
Fast decisions: Clear presumptive answers to guide cleaning, holds and escalation before confirmatory lab results return.
For Further Enquiry Contact: sales@vendart.com.au
