Researchers at the U. S. Department of Agriculture facility in Athens are developing a new test for Salmonella. It could shorten the time it takes to screen for the dangerous bacteria.

USDA researchers are using light and nanotechnology to locate the bacteria. When laser beams hit pathogens like Salmonella they vibrate and create patterns. The test takes 30 minutes, start to finish.

USDA researcher Bosoon Park says current tests take 24 hours to check for Salmonella, and up to three days to identify specific strains using DNA.

“Salmonella has many different types, so we can identify very specific Salmonella."

Park says the new test also requires smaller samples. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Salmonella causes around 1.2 million cases of food poisoning a year.

Tags: USDA, Salmonella, food safety, Josephine Bennett