By Neogen Corp.

LANSING, Mich., July 18, 2012 — Neogen Corporation has received approval from the AOAC Research Institute for its rapid and accurate test for the total viable count (TVC) of microorganisms in a sample.

Neogen’s newly approved Soleris test (Performance Tested Method certification 071203 from the AOAC Research Institute) detects microorganisms in as little as 4 hours, and only takes 24 hours to a negative result. Conventional methods can take up to 2 days.

“The Soleris TVC test was shown to produce rapid and accurate results—allowing for significantly quicker product releases that improve profitability,” said Neogen’s Joe Heinzelmann. “Soleris provides unrivaled labor and sample handling efficiency, and easy and intuitive microbial detection. Soleris TVC completes an approvals suite for the Soleris system that allows customers to take full advantage of rapid microbiology.”

The results of a rigorous validation study clearly indicate the Soleris TVC method can be used for rapid and accurate detection of microorganisms in a variety of food commodities. The performance of the Soleris TVC method was comparable to that of the reference procedures for the detection of microorganisms. The Soleris test offers significant time savings of up to 1 day over the reference procedure, while also reducing the amount of technician labor required.

The Soleris TVC test allows companies to react to microbiological results in half the time than other methodologies. Soleris TVC customers can release inventory faster, conduct interventions sooner, and react to problems in real time. These advantages allow companies to reduce inventory costs, improve operational efficiencies, and lower operational expenses.

Using the Soleris system enables operators to easily identify, monitor, and map problematic spots in their facilities. The Soleris system features the quickest automated quality indicator system protocols. Soleris tests provide:

• Yeast and mold results in 48 hours; conventional methods take up to 5 days.

• E. coli results in 7–10 hours; conventional methods take 24 hours or longer.

• Coliform results in 9–10 hours; conventional methods take 24 hours.

• Lactic bacteria results in 30–35 hours; conventional methods take 3–5 days.

Neogen Corporation (Nasdaq: NEOG) develops and markets products dedicated to food and animal safety. The company’s Food Safety Division markets diagnostic test kits to detect foodborne bacteria, natural toxins, genetic modifications, food allergens, drug residues, plant diseases, and sanitation concerns, and dehydrated culture media.