Development of a Lab-on-a-Chip Device for detection of Listeria in food samples

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Food safety is of paramount importance to Canada. Recent episode of Listeria out-break in a meat processing plant has created renewed interest in monitoring of food borne pathogens in ready-to-eat (RTE) meat products. The proposed device is aimed to detect Listeria monocytogenes in food samples within a few hours. This device integrates the microfluidics and the biosensor within a single platform, commonly referred to as a Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC). The proposed LOC will have a label free detection mechanism incorporating the state-of-art optofluidics principles and fabrications. The project will involve design, analysis and fabrication of the LOC and the prototype will be tested for its sensitivity and specificity towards L. monocytogenes. It is expected that the proposed LOC will provide timely early warning to any possible Listeria out-breaks in RTE meat products and will be an important tool for the regulators, like Canadian Food Inspection Agency, to monitor the meat processing units