eGENE-UP®: a new extraction platform for virus detection in shellfish

To better control foodborne virus outbreaks and safety issues in shellfish, there is a need for simple, sensitive, fast, standardized and reliable methods in order to offer analytical. The objective  was to develop and... [ view full abstract ]

To better control foodborne virus outbreaks and safety issues in shellfish, there is a need for simple, sensitive, fast, standardized and reliable methods in order to offer analytical.

The objective  was to develop and validate a new extraction platform add-on to the GENE-UP^® thermal cycler for a complete integrated workflow for foodborne virus detection in shellfish.

The performance criteria of the complete solution were compared with the ones of the ISO method. Protocols described  in the ISO/TS15216 was used for virus elution and concentration. Mengo virus was used as a viral process control. RNA extractions were performed using the eGENE-UP^® equipment, and performance compared with miniMAG^® platform. ceeramTools^® molecular detection kits were used for detection  of the different viruses. Two proficiency testings (PT from cefas and ifremer ) were conducted with this new extraction platform.

For shellfish samples, the eGENE-UP demonstrate equivalent performance in comparison with extraction using miniMAG^® platform; no statistical significant difference was observed. The same limit of detection (LOD) was achieved (250 genome copies per gram of digestive tissue with IC> 95%) with both methods. Such LOD is in accordance with the one obtained ISO/TS15216 method. PT results were confromed with the expected data.

For shellfish sample category, the complete solution (eGENE-UP/ GENE-UP cycler and ceeramTools detection kits) and the reference method ISO/TS15216 were concluded to be equivalent. As more analyses can be performed, more data on virus circulation can be generated leading to a better viral food safety management.