Invisible Sentinel goes down under to tackle food pathogens

By Joseph James Whitworth

- Last updated on GMT

Invisible Sentinel's assays to detect food- and wine-spoilage microbes have gained access to an international market
Invisible Sentinel's assays to detect food- and wine-spoilage microbes have gained access to an international market

Related tags New zealand Invisible sentinel Escherichia coli Listeria monocytogenes Foodborne illness

Invisible Sentinel’s Veriflow assays will be distributed in New Zealand as part of the firm’s strategy to gain access to international markets.

Under the agreement New Zealand Medical and Scientific (NZMS) will distribute all Veriflow​products to the New Zealand market including customers in the food and beverage industries.

NZMS Scientific, based in Auckland, sells products for medical and scientific applications.

The firm will make available Veriflow LS for Listeria species, Veriflow SS for Salmonella species, Veriflow​CA for Campylobacter, and Veriflow LM for Listeria monocytogenes – all assays to detect food pathogens.

Market fit

Ben Pascal, Invisible Sentinel’s chief business officer, said the agreement is specific to New Zealand.

Veriflow
Invisible Sentinel Veriflow

“As part of our international distribution strategy we’re focusing on markets that fit well with our current diagnostic technology portfolio,” ​he told FoodQualityNews.com.

“New Zealand not only is known for its rigorous food safety standards, but also produces many fine and premium wines.”

Invisible Sentinel also has a separate agreement for the Veriflow BRETT assay which will be distributed in Italy​.

As partners recognise the benefits of the technology the firm has been quick to expand overseas, said Pascal.

“However, we’re ensuring that our distribution partners have experience in all of the markets we sell into or operate effectively in multiple countries,” ​he said.

“Our partner in Italy will focus primarily on selling our products into the wine market, while NZMS Scientific has the ability to sell into both food, wine, and this winter, the brewing industry.”

Global reach obtained

Pascal said it was ‘exciting’ for them to have achieved global reach.

“Our technology fits well with multiple companies’ needs overseas which has contributed to its success,” ​he said. 

“Veriflow technology stands out from the rest of the competitors because it’s easier to use, minimizes sample preparation, works effectively across a wide-variety of matrices, is easily deployable, and is cost-effective.”

Veriflow assays for E. coli O157:H7 and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) are pending approval by the Association of Analytical Communities (AOAC).

NZMS Scientific will sell Veriflow BRETT, Invisible Sentinel’s assay to measure levels of the wine-spoilage microbe Brettanomyces bruxellensis.

For customers outside New Zealand Veriflow assays are available directly from Invisible Sentinel.

Pascal said North America is still the primary marketplace for the firm.

“We continue to improve on our existing technologies, but with our success in developing custom solutions for other companies, we’re constantly working on the next paradigm-shifting technology.

“This has allowed us to continue capturing market share and provide our international partners with a healthy pipeline of highly marketable technologies.”

He gave the example of recent partnership with Victory Brewing Company​ and a test to detect beer spoilage.

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