Press Releases
News and press releases for Lab M from the past twelve months are available to view below.
Lab M media selectively detects E. coli O26 strain
The recent closure of Feltham Hill Nursery and Infant School in Hounslow highlighted once again the vulnerability of children to Escherichia coli. Selective media, such as Rhamnose MacConkey (VTEC O26) Agar from microbiology specialist Lab M, can help avoid potentially devastating consequences such as haemorrhagic colitis (HC) and haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). By improving detection and characterisation of those pathogenic strains most often responsible for these outbreaks, the food industry can support more comprehensive health and safety monitoring.
click for more info >>
Lab M spoils its customers so their foodstuffs don’t!
Lab M ensures that its customers are spoiled for choice when it comes to the range of both traditional and chromogenic culture media products available for the isolation and identification of yeasts and moulds in foodstuffs.
click for more info >>
Salmonella spotting with Lab M’s specialist media
22 January 2010
Ongoing demand for accurate methods to both isolate and identify Salmonella enteritidis has been reaffirmed with the publication of a recent Health Protection Agency (HPA) report that details an ‘upsurge’ in food related cases of infection. Suitable for culturing organisms from both clinical and food samples, Lab M’s Harlequin™ Salmonella ABC chromogenic medium differentiates Salmonella spp. from other members of the Enterobacteriaciae family, making it an ideal tool for health and safety monitoring.
New year, new look for Lab M’s Harlequin™ chromogenic media
11 January 2010
Lab M’s growing range of chromogenic culture media for the isolation and identification of a variety of important micro-organisms has a new look for 2010. Marketed under the Harlequin™ brand, the range includes media designed to support the isolation of key organisms of significance to public health such as Listeria monocytogenes, Cronobacter sakazakii, Escherichia coli and Salmonella species. A new Harlequin™ logo and separate identity have been created, making it easier for customers to select chromogenic media specifically.
Microbiology specialist Lab M hails exhibition success
21 December 2009
The team at microbiology specialist Lab M is celebrating the company’s highly successful participation in this year’s Medica trade fair, which took place in Düsseldorf, Germany, from 18 - 21 November. This world forum provided the opportunity for productive discussions with both customers and distributors, and Lab M’s stand was busy throughout the show.
Testing the water with Lab M
8 December 2009
Maintaining a microbiologically safe water supply remains as important in high income countries as it is in the developing world. Microbiology specialist Lab M offers a comprehensive range of dehydrated culture media, including chromogenic agar and media supplements, specifically designed to aid water supply management.
Lab M range can help food manufacturers buck listeriosis trend
24 November 2009
An increasing incidence of listeriosis in Europe highlights the need to increase and maintain targeted active surveillance for Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to eat (RTE) foods across the complete lifetime of the product. Microbiological media specialist Lab M provides a range of culture media designed specifically for this purpose.
Lab M’s Sakazakii Solutions take centre stage at Medica
5 November 2009
Lab M’s Sakazakii Solutions, a range of microbiological media that provides a choice of products to meet all the recognised requirements for the culture and isolation of Cronobacter sakazakii, will be a major focus on the Lab M stand at Medica 2009 (18-21 November, Düsseldorf, Germany). The company’s expanding Harlequin™ brand chromogenic media, which includes two of the three C. sakazakii products, will also be on display. In addition there will be the first news of selected products launching in 2010.
Lab M medium selects verocytotoxin producing E. coli O26
28 October 2009
Rhamnose MacConkey (VTEC O26) Agar from microbiology specialist Lab M, is selective for verocytotoxin producing Escherichia coli O26. An established pathogen, this strain is linked to outbreaks of haemorrhagic colitis (HC) and haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). In addition to the need for comprehensive health and safety monitoring in the food industry, increased awareness of the VTEC O26 strain in both clinical and veterinary settings has coincided with the development of microbiological techniques that have improved detection and characterisation of this pathogen.
Challenge your disinfection procedures with Lab M’s neutralising media
12 October 2009
Encompassing products for the isolation and recovery of microorganisms from disinfectant-treated surfaces, Lab M’s neutralising media make challenge testing easy. With reliable auditing of hygiene procedures an absolute necessity in many different environments, Lab M’s products can help determine their effectiveness or can assist in determining the bactericidal capability of a specific disinfectant.
Lab M’s VCC supplement integral to E. coli O157 isolation
28 September 2009
The current UK outbreaks of Escherichia coli 0157 infection in young children have once again highlighted the seriousness of the ensuing illness, the importance of timely diagnosis and the need to track the source of infection. Enrichment of samples is an important part of the E. coli O157 recovery and isolation process and Lab M’s Buffered Peptone Water is used with VCC Selective Supplement to prepare a pre-enrichment broth for organism recovery. It then also serves as a selective enrichment medium for the isolation of E. coli O157 from food and other samples.
Lab M’s complete microbiological culture for breweries
14 September 2009
Lab M’s culture media for the brewing industry provides the means to detect and identify unwanted micro-organisms across all facets of the brewing process, as well as to monitor levels of those organisms that are fundamental to successful beer production.
Lab M and Labema Oy celebrate a 20 year partnership
20 August 2009
Lab M has established its international reputation with the help of discerning distribution companies and is now celebrating 20 years with Finnish partners, Labema Oy. Together, Lab M (Bury, UK) and Labema Oy (Kerava, Finland) have brought quality microbiological diagnostic products and dehydrated culture media to laboratories across Finland and Estonia.
Lab M media selectively identify Clostridium perfringens
6 August 2009
The anaerobic micro-organism Clostridium perfringens is well-known as a cause of food poisoning, with cooked meats and gravy presenting some of the greatest risks. Heat-resistant spores can survive cooking processes, germinating when food is subsequently held at ambient temperature. Improper cooling and reheating may then result in multiplication of the bacteria to levels high enough to cause illness when ingested, with clinical symptoms resulting from the action of an endotoxin produced in the gut.
Easy as ABC...
Lab M’s chromogenic salmonella medium suits food samples and clinical specimens.
24 July 2009
Part of Lab M’s extensive range of products for the isolation and identification of Salmonella species, Harlequin™ Salmonella ABC is a chromogenic medium suitable for culturing organisms from both clinical and food samples. This medium differentiates Salmonella spp. from other members of the Enterobacteriaciae by their ability to produce alpha-galactosidase in the absence of beta-galactosidase, using a dual chromogen system for visualisation.
Lab M up close
10 July 2009
Well known for its multi-coloured chromogenic media, Lab M believes in complete transparency when it comes to doing business.
‘Lab M – up close’ is a new addition to the company literature and gives a concise, view of what the company can do for its customers, illustrating how Lab M’s experience and expertise add value in the delivery of microbiological culture media.
Lab M’s Campylobacter culture
26 June 2009
As the weather warms up and people bring out the barbecue, food poisoning risks increase. Clinical Campylobacter infections, for example, are reported to contribute around fifty percent of all reported cases of infectious intestinal disease in the UK [1], with chicken an important source of the organism. Proper detection helps in managing the disease and microbiological culture media offer a straightforward method for isolating pathogens in food, environmental samples and faeces.
Lab M’s Campylobacter culture media are designed to isolate Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli, the two main pathogens responsible for Campylobacter enteritis.
Lab M focuses on ISO compliant and chromogenic media at food industry rapid methods seminar
12 June 2009
Lab M introduced food industry experts to the company’s latest culture media at this year’s ‘Rapid and alternative microbiological methods’ seminar and exhibition held on 4 June at Campden BRI (Gloucestershire, UK). Microbiologists, laboratory personnel, food manufacturers and retailers gathered to discuss rapid microbiological testing technology relevant to product safety within the food industry.
Lab M appoints Operations Manager
4 June 2009
Microbiology company Lab M has made a new appointment to its senior management team. Ian Cressey joined the company on 1 June 2009 as Operations Manager and is based at Lab M’s headquarters in Bury, Lancashire, UK.
Harlequin CSA-DFI launch completes Lab M’s C. sakazakii range
15 May 2009
With the launch of the new Harlequin™ CSA-DFI, Lab M will offer a complete range of Cronobacter sakazakii chromogenic media. Based on the Druggan-Forsythe-Iversen (DFI) formulation, the new medium is the third in Lab M’s family of products for the isolation and identification of C. sakazakii. The range is designed to meet current C. sakazakii testing protocols.
Senior appointment to Lab M export sales team
1 May 2009
Microbiology company Lab M is pleased to announce the appointment of Veronica Ponnuthurai as Export Sales Manager. In this role she succeeds Colin LeGood, who is now Sales and Marketing Manager for Lab M with world-wide responsibility. Ms Ponnuthurai joins the company at a time of significant expansion into global markets. An additional four distributors have recently joined Lab M’s overseas network: Dana Pharma (Iraq), KD3 Medical (Mali), Labquip (Lebanon) and Ardeola (Latvia & Lithuania).
Lab M offers SMART, cost effective proficiency testing
9 April 2009
Lab M’s SMART QA Proficiency Testing Scheme offers food industry laboratories a flexible, cost effective solution for the provision of documented validation of microbiological test methods and proficiency. Within each of the Standard, Standard Plus and Pathogen organism mixes available, participants are able to add further tests to their routine schedule at no additional cost.
Lab M C. sakazakii range supports all ISO Isolation protocols
19 March 2009
Lab M’s product range for the isolation of C. sakazakii now includes both broth and chromogenic media. In addition to the Harlequin™ Cronobacter sakazakii Isolation Medium, the company offers Cronobacter sakazakii Enrichment Broth. This product series facilitates the testing regimes recommended for C. sakazakii isolation under ISO/TS 22964:2006(E).
