PCR-related techniques for detecting food born pathogens.

[Kevin O'Donnell]

How about devising a system based on detecting RNA? This is degraded 
faster than DNA, so you'd have less chance of false positives based on 
nucleic acids from dead cells.

Another alternative approach would be to follow up any PCR positives 
with traditional plating-out, with a positive result in both required for 
confirmation of the presence of the pathogen in food. There would still be 
an advantage in using PCR because it would screen out the negative 
samples.

No references for either of these - just a couple of ideas that occured to 
me over my mid-morning cuppa:-) 

Kevin O'Donnell
Scottish Agricultural Science Agency    
Edinburgh
Scotland