Rapid Detection and Quantification of Salmonella in Chicken Carcass Rinse Using Point-of-Use Filtration-Isothermal Diagnostic Test

Poultry meat producers face pressure to ensure both safety and efficiency as food systems expand in scale and complexity. However, existing diagnostic tools often force a trade-off between speed, accuracy, and cost, leaving limited options for real-time, on-site pathogen detection. This study evaluated the performance of a novel point-of-use rapid diagnostic tool combining filtration and lyophilized isothermal amplification for detecting and semi-quantifying Salmonella in chicken carcass rinse samples. Targeted DNA (invA) was amplified at 65 °C for 60 min, and fluorescence was measured over time. Salmonella was successfully detected in all spiked samples (1.0- to 7.5-log10 CFU/mL; n = 57). An association was observed between the isothermal detection speed data and Salmonella load in the sample (r2 = 0.90; p < 0.001), particularly at concentrations ≥ 1.5-log10 CFU/mL. Repeatable data were obtained across three operators and samples of multiple origins (Georgia, Illinois, Nebraska; 0.16-log10; 95%CI: 0.11–0.21). Importantly, complete inclusivity for all tested Salmonella serotypes (n = 46/46) and exclusivity against non-target organisms (n = 0/37) was validated in this study. In conclusion, the technological combination of filtration and lyophilized isothermal amplification enabled the point-of-use detection and quantification of Salmonella in chicken carcass samples within 60 min and minimal lab infrastructure.