Real-time meat contamination test system-Craig Tuffnell, PhD

Craig graduated with a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Craig worked as a database designer for Digital Equipment Limited. He worked for 15 years at AuCom Electronics Limited, a company that develops electronic industrial motor control systems. Craig was responsible for Research and Development at AuCom, then the Director of Design..

Craig is the Chief Executive Officer at Veritide Ltd. Veritide has developed a certified Anthrax/spore detection device called Ceeker.

1. Introduction.
2. What is a foodborne pathogen?
3. What types of contaminants can meat products contain?
4. Does contamination include microorganisms, faecal contamination and "other" items?
5. What are meat spoilage bacteria or micro-organisms?
6. Which tests can detect foodborne pathogens in meat products?
7. What are the technical challenges those tests pose?
8. Which new technologies are available to solve these challenges?
9. Which new proprietary testing technology uses fluorescence?
10. Do the Veritide technologies test for total viable organisms with quantification?
11. Can the technologies test surface, airborne and liquid samples?
12. The portable instrumentation can test rapidly, on-site for the detection of bacteria, viruses and other biological agents.
13. The Ceeker™ detects in 3 to 10 minutes (approximately, depending on spore species, spore density and analysis conditions).
14. Veritide is developing cutting-edge technologies which include a hand held "wand" with fibre optics and a full carcass scanner.
15. Conclusion.

Craig Tuffnell
Cheif Operating Officer
Veritide Limited
+64 21 945944
c.tuffnell@veritide.com