Crystal Diagnostics Xpress™ LM Kit for the Rapid Detection of Listeria monocytogenes from Environmental Surfaces.

The Crystal Diagnostics (CDx) Xpress™ LM kit is used for rapid screening of low concentrations of Listeria monocytogenes on environmental surfaces such as stainless steel, plastic, and ceramic tile. In addition to the Xpress LM kit, the CDx Xpress System comprises an automatic Xpress Reader, a BioCassette™ that incorporates antibody-coupled microspheres, and liquid crystal for selective identification of the intended microbe. All 56 of the 56 tested L. monocytogenes strains evaluated were detected, and 50 of the 50 nontarget bacterial strains were excluded when the test was conducted under the described kit conditions. Shelf-life testing of the antibody-coated microspheres and other CDx consumables indicated that all materials were stable for a minimum of 6 months (ongoing), and lot-to-lot testing demonstrated no significant differences among lots. The internal and independent laboratory tests on stainless steel, plastic, and ceramic tile surfaces demonstrated that the method is equivalent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reference method, and there were no significant differences between the CDx Xpress LM kit presumptive and confirmed results for any of the matrixes. Overall, the CDx Xpress LM kit is one of the fastest to provide the sensitivity and specificity equivalent to the USDA reference method in screening low levels of L. monocytogenes surface contamination and, when combined with chromogenic culturing of presumptive positives, provides a streamlined confirmation process to rapidly and accurately differentiate L. monocytogenes from other microbes.

Crystal Diagnostics Xpress S Kit for the Rapid Detection of Salmonella spp. in Selected Food Matrixes.

The Crystal Diagnostics (CDx) Xpress S Kit is a rapid-screening assay for Salmonella spp. in whole raw tomatoes, whole chicken carcasses, raw ground beef, raw beef trim, and whole liquid pasteurized eggs with citric acid when present at levels of 1 CFU/portion size. The Xpress S system comprises an automatic CDx Xpress Reader and a single-use CDx BioCassette that incorporates antibody-coupled microspheres and liquid crystal for the selective identification of the intended microbe. In internal evaluations, the CDx Xpress S Kit detected all 142 Salmonella strains tested, including non-enterica subspecies, and excluded all non-Salmonella species assayed. Method-developer studies, as well as a third-party evaluation, demonstrated that 15 h single-stage enrichment permits rapid detection equivalent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Food and Drug Administration reference methods. The results demonstrate that the CDx Xpress S Kit is one of the fastest, most sensitive, and most accurate methods for detecting Salmonella in food matrixes.

Crystal Diagnostics Xpress™ E7 STEC Kit for the Rapid Multiplex Detection of E. coli O157 and non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.

The Crystal Diagnostics (CDx) Xpress E7 STEC kit is a rapid and sensitive detection assay for the detection of Escherichia coli O157 and six non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (serogroups O26, O45, O1O3, O111, O121, and O145, collectively referred to as STEC) at 1 CFU/325 g of raw ground beef and raw beef trim, or 200 g of spinach. The system comprises an automatic Crystal Diagnostics Xpress System Reader that integrates immunochemical and optical processes for the liquid crystal-based detection of microorganisms, a CDx BioCassette that incorporates antibody-coupled microspheres and liquid crystal for selective identification of the intended microbe, and additional commercially available components. The Crystal Diagnostics Xpress System(TM) combines proprietary liquid crystal technology with antibody-coated paramagnetic microspheres to selectively capture and detect STEC from food matrixes. The Xpress System expeditiously (9.5 h enrichment) provides the sensitivity and specificity of the U. S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service and the U. S. Food and Drug Administration reference methods in screening as low as 1 STEC CFU/test portion. The inclusivity validation demonstrated detection of 53 of 54 STEC test strains. Shelf life testing of the antibody-coated microspheres and other Crystal Diagnostic consumables indicated that all materials were stable for a minimum of 3 months (ongoing), and lot-to-lot testing demonstrated consistent results between lots (data not shown). The internal and independent laboratory tests demonstrate that the method is rapid and sensitive for screening of the target STEC.

Crystal Diagnostics MultiPath System™.

The Crystal Diagnostics MultiPath System™ provides rapid detection of Escherichia coli O157 in fresh raw ground beef, raw beeftrim, and spinach. The Crystal Diagnostics system combines patented Liquid Crystal technology with antibody-coated paramagnetic microspheres to selectively capture and detect E. coli O157 in food matrixes. This is the only liquid crystal-based biosensor commercially available for the detection of pathogens. The Crystal Diagnostics system expeditiously provides the sensitivity and accuracy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Bacteriological Analytical Manual (FDA-BAM) methods for detecting as low as one CFU of E. coli O157 per 375 g of raw ground beef and raw beef trim, or 200 g of raw spinach. An internal inclusivity validation demonstrated detection of all 50 tested strains of . coli O157. The internal and independent laboratory tests demonstrate that the method is rapid and sensitive for detecting of E. coli O157 in fresh raw ground beef, beef trim, and spinach.

Circadian variation in cell-adhesion molecule expression by normal human leukocytes.

Adhesion molecules located on the surface of blood-borne leukocytes permit adherence of leukocytes to the microvascular endothelium, diapedesis of leukocytes across vessel walls, formation of intimate multicell interactions, and enhanced transmembrane signal transduction. Since some leukocyte-mediated immune functions exhibit nocturnal intensification, the current study was conducted to investigate the hypothesis that expression of selected cell adhesion molecules (CAM) varies with circadian periodicity. Blood was collected from normal human donors over a 24-h period and CAM expression by monocytes, neutrophils, and lymphocytes evaluated by monoclonal antibody binding and flow cytometry. All leukocyte classes exhibited significant circadian-like variation (p < 0.05) in CD62L (L-selectin) expression. Similarly, a diurnal variation (p < 0.05) in monocyte and neutrophil CD54 (ICAM-1) was observed. Finally, neutrophils demonstrated a circadian-like variation (p < 0.05) in CD11a (LFA-1a). The rhythmic alterations in CAM expression may be clinically relevant, since changes in CAM expression have the potential to modulate the leukocyte-induced pathogenesis associated with disease progressions such as nocturnal asthma, the nighttime exacerbations of rheumatoid arthritis, and the high nocturnal incidence of cerebrovascular and cardiovascular crisis.