Neogen: Food Safety: Soleris Software

A. There is no difference. In 2004, Soleris, Inc., was acquired by Eastman Chemical Company. As part of a major new diagnostic solutions initiative, Soleris products and technology will be available under the Soleris™ brand name – with technical and sales support provided by Centrus International, Inc.

Q. What advantage does the Soleris system have over traditional methods?

A. Traditional methods use serial dilutions and pour plates. Work flow consists of several steps: serial dilutions, inoculate plates, incubate for required time, read plates, calculate results, record results, write report, etc. The shortcomings of such methodologies are:

labor intensity
poor reproducibility
long time to result
data and documentation must be manually managed

Soleris offers

Reduces warehouse cost due to faster results
Reduces problems due to faster solutions
Reduces labor cost; requires much less labor than current methods
Decrease inventory
Obtain trusted results:
- Sensitive
- Accurate
- Reproducible
Ease of Use: Simple sample preparation, menu driven navigation
Flexible test procedure and no batching
Safeguard from subjectivity & human error
Cost effective solutions
Computer sample tracking
Statistical trend analysis
Many automated reports
Early warning of problems

Q. How much does the Soleris system save in labor over traditional methods?

A. In a study conducted at the University of Guelph, Canada the Soleris Total Viable Count test compared to Plate Count Agar plating method, required 9.9 times less labor. Soleris coliform test compared with VRBA plating required 10.5 times less labor. Soleris E. coli test compared with the MPN method required 22.3 times less labor.

Q. What advantages does Soleris offer over other automated systems?

A. Soleris is very easy to use. Results are rapid, with problematic samples usually detected within the same shift. Therefore, release of product is much faster allowing inventory to be sent out more quickly, compared to traditional methods. It fits on a lab bench, is modular, and the system can grow in size with your lab. The vials are stored at room temperature, which frees up premium refrigerator space in the lab. The compact packaging of the vials makes them easy to transport and easy to store. The Soleris system provides a more sensitive assay, is more accurate, and gives more reproducible results than other methods. Detection times can be calibrated to give CFU per gram of product with test correlations (R-values) usually above 92%. Results are very reproducible. A sample inoculated into four separate vials will give curves and detection times very close together.

Q. What qualifies the Soleris system as “rapid” microbiology?

A. Traditional microbiological testing is time consuming because it involves the preparation of samples and the subsequent computing of results. The sensitivity and automation of the Soleris technology dramatically reduces time in both of these critical areas.

Hours and not days ...	Testing Times
Hours and not days ...	Typical Sample Bioburden Levels	Conventional Method	Soleris Method
Total viable counts	100,000	48 hours	6-8 hours
Coliforms	100	24 hours	9-10 hours
E.coli	10	24 hours	7-10 hours
Yeast and Mold	10	5 days	30-35 hours
Lactics	100	3-5 days	30-35 hours

Q. How does Soleris technology work?

A. The patented Soleris technology allows an LED and photo detector to monitor color changes without interference by sample particles or turbidity. The system can be used for “real-time” detection of a wide range of economically important microorganisms in a variety of products (see below). The results are displayed by color-coded monitoring with an alert on samples out of specification. By combining classic microbiology and modern technology, the system enables rapid and confident decisions about the microbiological quality of process and products.

Q. What are the components of the Soleris system?

A. The system is made up of three components:

The Soleris instrument (either the Soleris 32, the Soleris 128 or a variety of combinations of the two)
The Soleris software
The Soleris vial

Q. What are the advantages of the Soleris vial?

A. The vials are pre-filled, ready to use and specific to each test. Color reactions within the vials follow classic microbiology principles. A bar code on each vial simplifies data entry and reduces error. Cultures can be transferred from vials if other tests need to be performed. Entire sanitation swabs (TVC, coliform, Listeria) can be added directly to the vial – allows one-step inoculation without loss of organisms.

Q. What is the sample size of the product to be tested?

A. For liquid products, add 1 to 5 mL of product (depending on test) directly into pre-filled vial. For solid products, add 1 to 5 mL (depending on test) of a 1:10 dilution directly into pre-filled vial.

Q. What type tests can the system perform?

A. There are a wide array of tests available for the food safety industry, including:

Total Viable Count (TVC)
Coliform
E. coli
Yeast
Mold
Lactic acid bacteria
Enterobacteriaceae
Environmental Listeria sponges & swabs
Sterility testing
Sanitation monitoring
Shelf-life predictions
Biological indicator (spore strips)
Spoilage flora detection

Q. What types of products or industries are the Soleris products capable of servicing?

A. The Soleris products have direct applications with:

Meat
Poultry
Dairy
Seafood
Beverages
Salad dressings

Chocolate
Desserts
Frozen Foods
Fruits & Vegetables
Soy products
Nutraceuticals

The system also has a variety of successful applications in such industries as:

Chemical
Cosmetic
Paints
Toiletries
Machining Fluids

Q. How user-friendly is the Soleris system?

A. For most tests, the system is as simple as 1-2-3:

Step 1	Step 2	Step 3
Inoculate ready-to-use vial	Place the vial in the Soleris instrument	Record identification data into the software

Automated visual and audio alert for out-of-spec results. Other features of system allow for automated trending and reports on results, sample preparations can be started independently of one another, and software can create random HACCP monitoring list with the touch of button.

Q. How do users receive support or training for the Soleris system?

A. Technical support is available from Soleris at 800/234-5333 or via e-mail at soleris@neogen.com.

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