Relative accuracy, specificity and sensitivity of a 5′ nuclease Real-Time PCR assay for Salmonella detection in naturally contaminated pork cuts

• A Real-Time PCR assay for Salmonella detection in pork cuts was compared to ISO 6579.
• Potentially naturally contaminated meat was collected after storage and transportation.
• Relative sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 90, 78.7, and 82.9% respectively.
• A very good agreement with a Cohen's kappa value of 0.81 was registered.
• The PCR method might be useful for the quick check of meat lots before distribution.

In the present study the relative sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of a Real-Time PCR assay for Salmonella detection in naturally contaminated pork cuts were evaluated in comparison with the ISO 6579:2004 reference culture method. Meat samples were collected from packaging up to the end of shelf life from 10 different lots over a year. The PCR method included an 18 h pre-enrichment step in buffered peptone water, a DNA extraction step, and a final 5′ nuclease Real-Time PCR assay, including an Internal Amplification Control (IAC) and targeting the ttrRSBCA locus. Based on the analysis of 480 sub-units (three sub-units for each sample), the relative sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the Real-Time PCR assay were 90, 78.7, and 82.9% respectively, corresponding to a Cohen's kappa value of 0.81 (very good agreement). These results suggest the PCR method as a rapid and accurate method for the quick check of meat lots before distribution. The ISO reference method might be applied only on positive Real-Time PCR samples for confirmatory and isolation purposes, mandatory in epidemiological investigations.