UP Institute of Biology develops salmonella detector

A lamp that can detect the presence of salmonella on meat products in just an hour was developed by a team from the University of the Philippines (UP)-Diliman Institute of Biology (IB).

'Yan kasi yung problema ngayon sa meat products dito sa Pilipinas, walang efficient na method para ma-check o ma-detect ang presence ng salmonella,” said Windell Rivera of UP-IB in the latest feature of "24 Oras" Game Changer. 

(The problem with the meat products in the Philippines is the absence of efficient methods to check or detect the presence of salmonella.) 

Salmonella bacteria can cause food poisoning especially if the meat or egg is not properly cooked. 

Study showed salmonella is the leading cause of food poisoning in the Philippines. There were 9,000 cases detected in 2022, but this went up to 13,000 in 2023. 

The LAMP assay aims to be an efficient, accurate, and more affordable salmonella detector. 

“May kasama na siyang dye sa loob,  pagkatapos ng reaction mismo, mavu-view siya under UV light na may positive result agad,” said Davin Adao, who is also from the IB.

(It has dye inside and after the reaction, you can view the positive results under a UV light.) 

More than 1,000 meat samples were collected in the development of the detector. 

“Sa LAMP method, nakakuha kami ng 100% na detection rate,” said researcher Rance Derrick Pavon. 

(We got a 100% detection rate using the LAMP method.) 

To use the LAMP assay, a DNA sample of the bacteria must be collected. This will be put inside the detector. 

You can get the results after an hour by checking on the color. If the sample turns green, it means it is positive for salmonella. —Vince Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News