Introduction:
Researchers at University Mohammed VI Polytechnic have developed a rapid Salmonella detection method capable of identifying bacterial contamination in chicken in less than one hour, potentially transforming food safety screening in Morocco and beyond. The breakthrough, based on a colourimetric loop-mediated isothermal amplification (cLAMP) system, aims to reduce testing costs and shorten delays linked to traditional laboratory methods, which can take up to 48 hours to confirm contamination.
Why Is Salmonella Detection A Major Food Safety Concern?
Salmonella remains one of the world’s leading causes of foodborne illness and continues to pose significant risks to consumers and the food industry. Contaminated poultry products are among the most common transmission sources, prompting strict regulations in many countries regarding the presence of the bacteria in meat products.
According to global health estimates referenced by the researchers, foodborne diseases affect around one in 10 people worldwide every year and contribute to approximately 420,000 deaths annually. In Morocco, regulations require the complete absence of Salmonella in 25 grams of chicken products, placing pressure on food producers and inspectors to detect contamination quickly and accurately.
Traditional detection methods, while considered reliable, often require bacterial enrichment and DNA extraction procedures before analysis can begin. These laboratory stages increase costs and delay decision-making for food manufacturers and regulators, particularly when products are already moving through supply chains.
How Does The New Salmonella Test Work?
The research team at University Mohammed VI Polytechnic developed a colourimetric LAMP, or cLAMP, assay designed to simplify and accelerate the testing process. Unlike conventional PCR testing, which relies on repeated temperature cycling and complex equipment, the cLAMP method works at a constant temperature of 65 degrees Celsius.
The test uses a pH-sensitive Phenol Red indicator that changes colour when Salmonella DNA amplification occurs. A positive result is indicated by a visible shift from pink to yellow, allowing technicians to identify contamination without advanced laboratory instrumentation.
Researchers targeted the hilA gene, known to be highly conserved across Salmonella strains, in order to improve the assay’s specificity. The team stated that the method can detect Salmonella directly from chicken samples without requiring pre-enrichment or DNA extraction, an approach they believe has not previously been documented for this specific application.
Abdeladim Moumen, Director of the Diagnostic Kits and Medical Devices Development Laboratory at UM6P, said the objective was to create a fully localised solution capable of lowering testing costs and reducing reliance on imported diagnostic technologies.
What Technical Challenges Did Researchers Need To Overcome?
One of the key obstacles involved the naturally acidic pH of chicken meat, which could interfere with the colour-based reaction used in the test. To address this issue, researchers experimented with different sodium hydroxide concentrations before selecting a 12.5 mM pretreatment solution.
The team analysed 50 chicken breast samples and found that pH levels remained largely stable within the desired range after treatment. This adjustment allowed the colourimetric reaction to function more reliably during direct testing.
Laboratory trials demonstrated that the assay could detect Salmonella concentrations as low as 3.9 CFU/µL, indicating high sensitivity levels comparable to real-time PCR systems. In artificially contaminated chicken samples, versions using DNA extraction detected contamination at concentrations down to 1 CFU/µL in some cases.
Although the simplified heat-treatment method proved slightly less sensitive, researchers said it still successfully identified contamination in several diluted samples, suggesting practical value for rapid food screening where full extraction procedures may not be feasible.
Why Is Local Diagnostic Production Important For Morocco?
Researchers involved in the project said the wider ambition extends beyond a single Salmonella test. Moumen described the initiative as part of a broader effort to develop diagnostic tools that are “100% Moroccan brain, 100% Moroccan hands”.
Morocco, like many developing economies, relies heavily on imported laboratory reagents and testing materials from Europe, China and the United States. Import authorisations for health-related materials can also create delays for research and industrial development.
The UM6P laboratory believes locally manufactured diagnostic systems could reduce costs, improve national self-sufficiency and strengthen the country’s public health infrastructure. Researchers also indicated that similar testing methods could eventually be adapted for animal diseases, plant viruses and certain human illnesses.
Current projects within the laboratory reportedly include work linked to tuberculosis, hepatitis, breast cancer, leukaemia and tomato crop diseases.
How Is The Technology Being Prepared For Commercial Use?
The transition from academic research to commercial deployment is being managed through Moldiag, a spin-off company established by UM6P researchers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The company previously developed and commercialised a Moroccan-made COVID-19 diagnostic test, which researchers described as the first fully designed and manufactured molecular test produced domestically in Morocco.
According to Moumen, the Salmonella assay is now in its final validation phase before wider deployment. Researchers are preparing larger-scale testing to evaluate the system under more complex contamination conditions and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
Food safety experts say rapid screening tools could provide significant economic benefits for poultry producers by reducing delays, limiting waste and enabling faster decisions regarding contaminated products.
How Could This Development Affect Food Safety Standards?
Rapid Salmonella detection technologies are increasingly viewed as essential tools within modern food supply chains, particularly as regulators seek faster responses to contamination risks. A quicker testing process could improve outbreak prevention efforts and reduce the likelihood of contaminated products reaching consumers.
The visible colour-change system may also make testing more accessible for laboratories with limited technical infrastructure. Lower-cost diagnostics could prove especially valuable in developing markets where advanced molecular testing equipment remains expensive or difficult to obtain.
Industry observers note that broader adoption will depend on successful regulatory validation and real-world performance across larger sample sizes. Nevertheless, the study reflects growing efforts across Africa and the Middle East to strengthen domestic biotechnology and reduce dependence on imported health technologies.
The development of a rapid Salmonella chicken test by researchers at University Mohammed VI Polytechnic marks a potentially significant step forward for food safety screening and local biotechnology production in Morocco. While further validation remains necessary before full commercial rollout, the research highlights how faster, lower-cost diagnostic tools could reshape contamination monitoring within the poultry industry. As regulators and producers continue seeking more efficient food safety systems, the progress of the UM6P assay and its commercial expansion through Moldiag will likely attract close attention from both public health authorities and the wider agricultural sector.
