Press Releases
News and press releases for Lab M from the past twelve months are available to view below.
Lab M’s ‘one-stop sakazakii shop’ launches at Medica
17 October 2008
For microbiology culture media specialist Lab M, Medica 2008 will see the international launch of a new range of media for Cronobacter sakazakii isolation and identification. Formerly known as Enterobacter sakazakii, this largely environmental organism has been associated with serious infections in newborns fed on infant formula milk. Lab M’s range of three media, which includes both broth and chromogenics, is designed to meet the various testing regimes of different laboratories, providing a ‘one-stop sakazakii shop’.
Lab M installs a Gericke cone mill
4 November 2008
As specialists in the development and production of microbiological culture media, Lab M had a very particular list of requirements when they chose to increase production capacity with an additional grinding mill. The GCN-150 Cone Mill (Gericke Ltd.) was Lab M’s system of choice. Following a highly successful installation and initial trial period hosted by Gericke’s expert team of engineers, Lab M was quickly able to bring the mill into full operation in February this year.
Lab M instigates cultural exchange in Budapest
23 October 2008
Microbiology specialist Lab M and Forr Labs, the company’s distributor for Hungary, recently co-hosted a highly successful microbiology workshop held in Budapest. The workshop, which took place on 11 September 2008, is part of an initiative to forge closer bonds between the needs of the customer and the resource and capability of Lab M. As a result of the event, Lab M was able to connect and exchange ideas with more than 40 representatives from Budapest laboratories.
Lab M’s Listeria range supports food safety
10 October 2008
The current Listeriosis outbreak in Canada is a stark reminder of the high fatality rate associated with this rare food-borne infection. The incident highlights the need for vigilance in the food industry, demonstrating that even the most stringent food preparation safety protocols can be breached. Microbiological diagnostic specialist Lab M provides a range of culture media designed specifically for the enrichment and isolation of Listeria species from food. The range covers FDA, ISO 11290 and USDA requirements and features Harlequin chromogenic media, a highly selective, state-of-the-art detection and presumptive identification system.
Lab M launches new media for Cronobacter sakazakii isolation
23 September 2008
Microbiology specialist Lab M is launching the first product in its new range of dehydrated culture media for the isolation of Cronobacter sakazakii. Formerly known as Enterobacter sakazakii, this largely environmental organism has been associated with serious infections in newborns fed on infant formula milk. Lab M’s range will include both broth and chromogenic media, and is designed to meet the various testing regimes of different laboratories.
New medium for presumptive E. coli enumeration in milk
5 September 2008
Lab M’s new Modified Lauryl Sulphate Tryptose Broth with MUG & Tryptophan (ISO) is designed for the presumptive enumeration of Escherichia coli from milk and milk products using the Most Probable Number (MPN) technique according to ISO 11866-1:2005. The key to E. coli enumeration is the addition of 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-D-glucuronide (MUG) to the standard Lauryl Tryptose broth formulation.
Lab M culture media for Clostridium difficile
21 August 2008
New data show that England and Wales have experienced a sustained increase in the number of death certificates mentioning Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) in recent years, including a dramatic 72% increase from 2005 to 2006 (Office for National Statistics, May 2008). C. difficile is one of the major causes of hospital-acquired infections. At any one time, over 1.4 million people worldwide are suffering from infections acquired in hospital*. Lab M’s Brazier CCEY agar, which is based on the market leading Fastidious Anaerobe Agar, provides rapid and reliable detection of this disease-causing bacterium.
Lab M offers specific media solutions for brewing
7 August 2008
Lab M’s brewing industry range includes microbiological culture media for the accurate, fast, reliable detection and isolation of Saccharomyces and non-Saccharomyces wild yeasts, lactic acid bacteria, and a variety of other micro-organisms important in brewing processes. The range, which comprises industry-specific, high quality dehydrated culture media, provides a complete microbiology solution for the modern brewing laboratory.
Convenient results summary for Lab M’s SMART QA Proficiency Testing Scheme
18 July 2008
The new annual results summary provided to participants in Lab M’s SMART QA Proficiency Testing Scheme for the food industry summarises a participating laboratory’s activities for one calendar year in a single page report. Offering a realistic yet concise overview of the lab’s methods and proficiencies, the review is informative and easy to understand.
Lab M welcomes new distributors to worldwide team
10 July 2008
In the past six months microbiological culture media specialist Lab M has added ten new distributors to its team, across Africa, the Americas, Europe, the Far East, Asia and the Middle East. The move reflects the company’s continuing development of its overseas business, under the guidance of export sales manager Colin LeGood who joined Lab M last year.
Legionella isolation medium used for water samples
3rd July 2008
Legionella-related deaths continue to hit the headlines around the world, with recent cases linked variously to shower heads, hot tubs and cooling waters. With water monitoring playing an important role in controlling legionella, Lab M’s BCYE (buffered charcoal yeast extract) Legionella Isolation Medium is finding increasing application.
Colourful theme for new Lab M ‘Mini-cat’
23 June 2008
The new issue of Lab M’s ‘mini-catalogue’ focuses on ‘microbiology in colour’ with a review of the transforming effects of chromogenic culture media and highlights from Lab M’s leading Harlequin™ chromogenic range.
Campylobacter culture from Lab M
9 June 2008
According to the UK’s Food Standards Agency cases of the top two food poisoning bugs, salmonella and campylobacter are set to soar to more than 120,000 in just 3 months over the summer.
Primarily associated with undercooked meat and poultry, Campylobacter infection is characterised by severe diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli are the two main pathogens responsible for Campylobacter enteritis, and early diagnosis by culture and isolation can enhance clinical investigation and epidemiological studies.
Rapid Salmonella detection with MSRV medium from Lab M
23 May 2008
Capable of detecting Salmonella species within 24 hours, Modified Semi-solid Rappaport Vassiliadis (MSRV) medium is one of a range of products from Lab M devoted to the detection and isolation of these organisms.
S. aureus isolation with Lab M Baird-Parker medium
9 May 2008
Lab M’s Baird-Parker Medium (ISO) is one of the company’s range of microbiological culture media developed to meet specific ISO requirements in the food industry. Intended for the isolation of coagulase-positive staphylococci, including Staphylococcus aureus, from food and animal feedstuffs, the medium is formulated according to ISO 6888-1:1999. It is in compliance with ISO 6888-2:1999 and 6888-3: 2003 and is tested in accordance with ISO/TS 11133-2:2003(E).
Lab M media for Clostridium perfringens enumeration and identification
17 April 2008
In the news recently as a contaminant in one community’s water supply in Ireland, Clostridium perfringens is widely distributed in the environment and is part of the normal flora in human and animal intestines.
Microbiology in Colour
25 March 2008
Developed to improve the isolation and identification of a variety of micro-organisms, Lab M’s Harlequin™ chromogenic media can help eliminate or reduce the need for subculture and confirmatory biochemical tests.
Lab M extends SMART QA Proficiency Testing Scheme for food industry to labs outside the UK
25 February 2008
Microbiology culture media specialist Lab M is making its SMART QA Proficiency Testing Scheme for the food industry available for the first time to customers outside the UK.
On the road with Lab M!
7 February 2008
Attracting particular attention on the Lab M stand at the recent SfAM Winter Meeting (8 Jan 08, London, UK) on ‘Quality assurance in microbiology and alcoholic beverages’, were SMART QA and ISO compliant dehydrated culture media.
New laboratory at Noon Products relies on Lab M culture media
1 February 2008
Well known for its ready-prepared chilled and frozen Indian, Thai and other regional dishes, Noon Products last year opened spacious new laboratories at its production plant in Southall, UK. The laboratories house both chemistry and microbiology testing and serve the company’s four production facilities as well as other parts of the Kerry Foods group to which it now belongs. The first microbiology facility was established at Noon Products in 1992, and the lab has always used dehydrated culture media from Lab M for the majority of its procedures, a situation that is set to continue with the move to new premises.
BLEBPLUS a key product in Lab M’s Listeria range
4 January 2008
Lab M’s range of microbiological culture media for the enrichment and isolation of Listeria species from food samples covers the requirements of FDA, ISO 11290 and USDA methods. Key products, including Buffered Listeria Enrichment Broth,PLUS, are available in a complete blend format, omitting the need for additional supplementation.
Export Sales Manager joins Lab M team
11 December 2007
Microbiology culture media specialist Lab M has appointed Colin LeGood in the role of Export Sales Manager, as the company continues the development of its business world wide.
