Sample6

Sample6 sells a food safety analytics platform comprising hardware, software, and diagnostic tests that enables food manufacturers to detect contamination in real-time, remain compliant with regulations, and better manage brand risks that may stem from lost production time or a recall of its products. The company was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts.

The BioIllumination Platform comprises a desktop instrument for loading and reading samples, diagnostic kits called DETECT, and comprehensive data analysis and compliance software called CONTROL.

Sample6's diagnostic kits use viruses called bacteriophages, or phages, to selectively infect food-borne bacteria. The phages multiply inside bacteria cells and force them to produce a bioluminescent protein, which is then detected by a light source in the hardware. The phage-based detection method only reads live cells (reducing false positives from detecting dead cells) and provides in-shift results (many times faster than standard detection methods).

The CONTROL software integrates results from samples with facility-specific workflows, generates data reports for regulatory audits, and provides information regarding compliance with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) standards.