Neogen : Study recommends Neogen’s Reveal® 2.0 for PSP for regulatory use

AYR, Scotland, 26 January, 2018 - A comprehensive study has demonstrated an equivalence of Neogen's lateral flow ELISA to detect the toxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) with standard test protocols, and recommended Neogen's rapid test for regulatory use for testing oysters. The collaborative study was led by Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) and South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI).

Neogen's Reveal^® 2.0 for PSP detects PSP-causing toxins at a level of 800 parts per billion (ppb), and is compatible with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Union Commission permitted levels. The comprehensive study consisted of 16 laboratories in eight countries, and included government regulatory laboratories, as well as research institutes, university laboratories, independent/commercial laboratories, and a shellfish hatchery quality assurance laboratory.

'The study's results demonstrate that the simple Reveal PSP test represents a significant advancement in shellfish toxin testing technology. With our Reveal 2.0 for PSP test, we can provide accurate results in only 5 minutes after extraction - other laboratory tests for PSP can take up to three hours to perform,' said Neogen Europe's Steve Chambers. 'While the study recommended the Reveal test may be acceptable for screening purposes in accordance with EC directives for oysters using the standard protocol, the test was also shown to perform as well as the 'gold standard' testing protocol for testing mussels.'

Reveal 2.0 for PSP is an easy-to-use, one-step rapid test that requires a simple water extraction, and only 5 minutes after extraction to produce results. The shellfish toxin test can be used in the field or in a lab, and is designed for use by harvesters and processors to test clams, cockles, mussels, scallops and oysters. Used with Neogen's AccuScan^® Pro lateral flow test reader, the system provides consistently accurate and reliable results - and is backed by Neogen's experienced customer and technical support service.

Toxins that cause PSP can be produced by dinoflagellates of different genera, including Alexandrium and Gymnodinium; the most researched of these toxins is saxitoxin (STX). In addition to contamination of seafood, these marine biotoxins can result in human and marine wildlife mortality. The clinical toxicological effects attributed to PSP can include: nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, respiratory distress and muscular paralysis.

Neogen's line of simple tests for shellfish toxins also includes Reveal 2.0 for ASP, which detects amnesic shellfish poisoning-causing toxins at a level of 20 parts per million (ppm), and Reveal 2.0 for DSP, which detects diarrhetic shellfish poisoning-causing toxins at 160 parts per billion (ppb).

Neogen Corporation (NASDAQ: NEOG) develops and markets products dedicated to food and animal safety. The company's Food Safety Division markets dehydrated culture media and diagnostic test kits to detect foodborne bacteria, natural toxins, food allergens, drug residues, plant diseases and sanitation concerns. Neogen's Animal Safety Division is a leader in worldwide biosecurity products, animal genomics testing and the manufacturing and distribution of a variety of animal healthcare products, including diagnostics, pharmaceuticals and veterinary instruments.

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