Kildare-based Advanced Laboratory Testing Ltd. (ALT) has secured new accreditations to offer rapid 24-hour testing for Salmonella, Listeria and STEC using the latest PCR technologies.

Located in Newbridge and employing 60 staff, ALT is one of Ireland’s fastest growing laboratory services provider currently offering accredited microbiology, environmental chemistry, food chemistry and veterinary testing services.

The Irish-owned company is the only commercial laboratory in Ireland currently offering these accredited PCR based rapid testing solutions.

Managing Director of ALT, Billy Coleman said that the highly qualified technical team at ALT is delighted to increase the level of service offering to Irish food sector.

“Customers can now have access to key results for their products within 24 hours which will enable them to significantly reduce waiting times for results and this in turn assists them in getting product swiftly to market,” he said.

The STEC accreditations available from ALT is timely as the Irish beef industry continues its efforts to penetrate International markets including the key US market, according to ALT.

ALT is now in a position to offer the testing services necessary to meet the Microbial standards required for these markets.

The new accreditations are also seen by ALT as being of particular relevance to the Artisan food sector in terms of significantly reducing their waiting time for key results for ready to eat (RTE) product.

Coleman said that the company believes that these new accreditations reaffirms its commitment to continually improving its service offering and our aim is to be able to expand our range of testing services in the very near future.