Thermo Fisher Scientific’s SureTect Automation Workflow makes food microbiology simple and friendly for laboratories.
Food and beverage manufacturing goes beyond robust machinery and efficiency. At the end of the day, the product being delivered must be safe to consume. At the heart of every product is a rigorous research and development process, with food microbiology being a field of study to analyse the quality of food products.
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in food microbiology is a technique utilised to detect foodborne pathogens by amplifying DNA to detectable levels in a short time frame. It involves taking a single copy of DNA and multiplying a targeted strand several times using a template. The multiplication from one to several million copies to get it to a detectable level can be achieved within a few hours and what once required five to seven days to complete can now be done within two.
PCR provides manufacturers with a pathway to release products quickly while complying with high food regulatory standards. The technology is capable of detecting very low levels of microbial DNA, providing food producers with assurance that their products are free of pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria and Pathogenic E. coli, safeguarding consumers and protecting brand integrity.
Understanding the fast-paced nature of the food and beverage industry, Thermo Fisher Scientific, a global leader in science making the world healthier, cleaner and safer by providing laboratories with the tools they need for transformative developments, particularly in PCR technologies. As the company’s technical applications specialist Stephen Dixon described, PCR is important for food microbiology as it speeds up the process of releasing a product.
Traditional PCR processes require highly specific skilled scientists and are labour intensive, this can hinder overall performance in time-sensitive environments. To address this, Thermo Fisher Scientific’s SureTect Automation Workflow, powered by the CyBio FeliX Instrument, provides a streamlined platform that simplifies the PCR process.
SureTect Automation Workflow
Traditional workflows required multiple stages of DNA extraction, preparation and amplification, all of which demanded a high level of technical expertise. This complexity limited its accessibility for many food and beverage laboratories, where staff often carry out a wide variety of roles and may not specialise in molecular biology.
For many food businesses, most tests return negative results, meaning pathogens are not detected. Dixon said that “one per cent or two per cent” of laboratories, at the very most, found positive results in their product. Under traditional methods, every sample still required multiple days of culture and confirmation steps, even when the outcome was negative.
“What we’ve done with SureTect Automation Workflow is to simplify the PCR process by eliminating the extraction process so that you can proceed straight to the lysis,” said Dixon.
In PCR, lysis is the step of opening cells to release the target DNA by breaking down the cell membrane. This then serves as the template for amplification. Lysis makes the DNA accessible to the PCR reaction components, such as DNA polymerase, primers and nucleotides. Without this release, the PCR process cannot begin. Instead of laborious DNA extraction and multiple reagent preparations, the system uses a lysis step followed by direct transfer into a ready-to-use PCR tablet.
The SureTect System keeps PCR processes simple, especially for those who are not experienced in molecular biology. The process can be performed manually or automated, offering flexibility for laboratories of different sizes.
“With SureTect Automation Workflow, laboratories will not run the risk of errors caused by manual processes,” said Dixon.
The automation option is particularly valuable in minimising human intervention. The automated lysis and PCR setup reduces the risk of operator error, lowers the labour burden and allows staff to focus on other tasks while the system runs.
By integrating into existing laboratory routines without the need for infrastructure changes, the automated workflow allows hands-on time reduction while reproducing accurate results. According to Dixon, laboratories would no longer need to use multiple rooms for the PCR process and can be set up “on a single bench”.
Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
In 2023, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) worked with Thermo Fisher Scientific to develop a PCR assessment for the detection of spoilage contamination in the production environment. In the past, the company relied on highly specialised equipment and expertise for microbial testing, often concentrating testing within a small number of specialist centres. Some methods required extended enrichment periods of up to six days before analysis on expensive equipment such as high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
By implementing automation into its workflow with SureTect, CCEP has been able to go beyond laborious manual protocol, enabling routine laboratories across multiple countries to perform testing without needing extensive molecular biology expertise.
According to Raul Mesa, Quality and Food Safety Manager at CCEP, routine manual analysis became challenging when the number of samples increased during contamination events. With the instrument using a robotic head and dual platform to perform the role of a lab technician to prepare the samples, the samples are then placed in the thermocycler for PCR.
The new approach saves both time and cost while maintaining confidence in the accuracy of results. The automation function allows laboratory staff to set up tests, load the system and return later for results, making it easier to integrate PCR into busy laboratory schedules.
One of the challenging steps when implementing new technology into a workplace is getting workers or technicians on board with the project. Dixon explained that Thermo Fisher Scientific does not simply provide equipment and leave customers to operate it independently.
“We offer training while looking after the diagnostic side of the business and troubleshooting problems, Additionally, we provide ongoing support services to ensure our customers can effectively utilise the technology.” he said.
With CCEP, Thermo Fisher Scientific provided an initial training session to ensure the laboratory was confident with the newly implemented technology. This was followed by weekly calls and refresher training sessions by specialised staff. Dixon said that technical support lowers the barrier for companies to adopt advanced molecular methods.
Making microbiology friendly
With the food and beverage sector facing stricter regulations alongside growing consumer expectations around safety and sustainability, traditional microbiological testing, while effective, often struggles to keep pace with the demand for rapid product turnaround and traceability.
With PCR, a laboratory’s approach to pathogen detection is transforming, offering speed and accuracy that align with modern manufacturing needs. Simplified systems such as SureTect Automation Workflow are part of Thermo Fisher Scientific’s long-term goal to “make food microbiology more user-friendly” in the food and beverage industry. By partnering with businesses such as CCEP, Thermo Fisher Scientific demonstrates how advanced molecular technologies can be integrated into routine food testing.
“What Thermo Fisher Scientific wants to do is to make life easy for laboratories,” said Dixon. “If you are looking to make a change, don’t be afraid to ask for help because that’s what we’re here for.”
For more information please reach out to ANZinfo@thermofisher.com