We describe a suspension array hybridization assay for rapid detection and identification of
Salmonella and other bacterial pathogens using Luminex® xMAP™ technology. The Luminex
xMAP system allows simultaneous detection of up to 100 different targets in a single multiplexed
reaction. Included in the method are the procedures for (1) design of species-specific oligonucleotide
capture probes and PCR amplification primers, (2) coupling oligonucleotide capture
probes to carboxylated microspheres, (3) hybridization of coupled microspheres to oligonucleotide
targets, (4) production of targets from DNA samples by PCR amplification, and (5)
detection of PCR-amplified targets by direct hybridization to probe-coupled microspheres. The
Luminex xMAP suspension array hybridization assay is rapid, requires few sample manipulations,
and provides adequate sensitivity and specificity to detect and differentiate Salmonella and
nine other test organisms through direct detection of species-specific DNA sequences.