Most individuals infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 H after infection. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and the majority of patients recover without treatment. However, in some cases, the diarrhea may be so severe that hospitalisation is required. Salmonella is a genus of rod-shaped, Gram-negative, non spore-forming, predominantly motile bacteria, belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family. Salmonella spp. are one of the most common causes of food poisoning worldwide and have been isolated from most types of raw food (e.g. meats, eggs and plant products). Their high resistance to drying combined with a very high heat resistance once dried makes Salmonella a potential problem in most foods, particularly in dry and semi-dry products. Food legislation in many countries includes limits on Salmonella – typically absence in 25 g of food. Traditional microbiological methods for detection of Salmonella in food and animal feed require a total of up to five days to obtain a simple yes/no result. Innovative, rapid tests make screening for pathogenic organisms easier. The one-step format reduces the possibility of errors during handling.

• Easy to use: simply add sample and read off the result
• Safe; clear and distinctive positive or negative test results with built-in positive control
• Reliable: as sensitive as the official culture media method
• Economical: rapid results save labour and inventory costs