New 'simple' salmonella rapid test could be used at-home: Canadian researcher

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A few years from now, people could have an at-home test for salmonella.

A team of researchers at McMaster University in Ontario has developed the world's first rapid test for the bacteria.

Professor Yingfu Li, leading McMaster’s Functional Nucleic Acids Research Group, says the invention could have a great impact on foodborne bacteria contamination in the world.

"As we transition to more health-conscious regular citizens like you and I, we ask for more tools that we can use to protect ourselves, just like with COVID," Li said.

The current standard test to detect salmonella is culture-based, Li said. It can take minimum a day, but sometimes several days for the cells to grow enough to detect the bacteria.

"It's time-consuming and relatively expensive because it involves equipment and technicians' time," Li said. "There is a need for a simpler test."

The new rapid test can detect the salmonella bacteria in as little as an hour — balancing sensitivity and time.

Li said researchers intended for the test to be taken up in industrial settings, but also for regular citizens to have at home.

"The food we buy from grocery stores, they are produced by various manufacturers and they actually do the test (for salmonella). We talked to some of them and they would love to have a quick test like we have," Li said.

"We are also trying to get to the hands of regular people like us, in situations where we may need to stay alert of things like salmonella."

What is salmonella?

Salmonella is a hardy bacteria most commonly found living in the intestines of animals. It can cause illness in humans — salmonellosis — often characterized by diarrhea, vomiting and fever.

"Symptoms of salmonellosis are relatively mild and patients will make a recovery without specific treatment in most cases," the World Health Organization (WHO) outlined. "However, in some cases, particularly in children and elderly patients, the associated dehydration can become severe and life-threatening."

WHO said salmonella is one of four key global causes of diarrhoeal diseases, which impact nearly 10 per cent of the global population annually. One study estimates the salmonella bacteria is responsible for about 155,000 deaths globally each year.

According to Health Canada, humans usually become infected through contaminated food, including:

• raw or undercooked meat (poultry, pork and ground beef)

• raw or undercooked eggs

• unpasteurized dairy products (raw milk, cheese)

• raw fruits and vegetables

However, it can also be spread through contact with contaminated animals, including house pets and humans.

How to prevent contamination

As Health Canada warns, "it can be difficult to prevent salmonellosis because contaminated foods look, smell and taste normal."

The agency recommends following general food safety guidelines, including thoroughly cooking meat and vegetables before eating.

It also recommends washing hands "often and properly" when handling food, animals, pet treats and toys and animal waste.

People are also advised to avoiding cooking for others when potentially suffering from a contagious illness.

McMaster University researcher Li hopes his team's invention will serve as another precautionary measure.

How the new rapid test works

The test is designed to be very simple, Li said, adding it works much like the rapid test for COVID-19.

The researchers developed a synthetic molecule that specifically interacts with salmonella and no other bacteria. It's the first molecule of its kind, Li said.

How it works: you take a cotton swab and place it into contact with the food you want to test.

Then you put a small amount of liquid into a tube where the bacteria will transmit to the liquid.

A small test tip, the 'au-tip,' is then stuck into that tube with the liquid and taken out.

After waiting for about an hour or more, you take a special piece of paper containing a biosensor and touch it with the tip.

"If you see a red spot, that indicates the presence of salmonella," Li said.

The test developers have been working with Toyota Tsusho Corporation, the parent company of Toyota, on testing and producing the rapid test for commercial use.

"They want to do it as quick as possible," Li said, adding it does take a while to get these types of tests to the market.

It'll be at least a year or two before it'll be in use, he said.

Li added the invention of this test is "positive progress" towards making tests for certain conditions available to regular people.

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