Researchers from Osaka Metropolitan University have achieved rapid, simultaneous detection of multiple foodborne bacteria with a handheld electrochemical device, which sends results to a smartphone app for convenient interpretation of results.

The biosensor-based technology was able to detect Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in real-world samples, onsite and within an hour. Time-wise, the new device offers a vast improvement over traditional, culture-based methods conducted in a laboratory, which can take days to produce results.