bioMérieux has launched GENE-UP PROBIOTIC SPECIES ID, a PCR-based test designed to give dietary supplement manufacturers species-level verification of probiotic ingredients in 90 minutes or less, replacing compendial methods that can take weeks.
Developed in collaboration with supplement manufacturer NOW, the assay identifies the 18 most commonly used probiotic species in capsules and powders, including Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium lactis.
bioMérieux described it as the first commercialised species-level identification PCR solution built specifically for in-house quality control teams and external laboratory partners working with multi-strain formulations.
It said the launch was in response to a persistent bottleneck in probiotic manufacturing: verifying that a finished product actually contains the species listed on its label.
Mixed-strain formulations have traditionally required third-party reference laboratories for confirmation, a process that can delay production release, increase holding costs and expose manufacturers to compliance risk if a batch fails testing late in the cycle.
Maria Mendres, Microbiology Manager at NOW, said the partnership was driven by exactly this problem, noting that slow compendial identification had created operational bottlenecks and unnecessary product risk.
"Our partnership with bioMérieux to develop GENE-UP PROBIOTIC SPECIES ID gives us, as well as the industry at large, the ability to generate accurate, on-site species-level results in 90 minutes or less."
That speed and accessibility not only help us hit production targets and minimise waste but also strengthens our ability to consistently deliver validated label claims to protect the integrity of our brand.
bioMérieux framed the launch against a backdrop of rising regulatory and consumer scrutiny in the US probiotics market.
Miguel Villa, the firm's Senior Vice President of Industrial Applications for North America, said the test is intended to give manufacturers confidence.
In the US, where the probiotics market continues to grow and consumer scrutiny continues to rise, GENE‑UP PROBIOTIC SPECIES ID gives manufacturers the confidence to stand behind their products and deliver precise species identification that supports label integrity and protects brand reputation.
Alejo Migones, Senior Vice President of Global Food Safety & Quality, added that reliable species verification is becoming essential not just for quality control but for managing operational risk and maintaining market access in an increasingly competitive category.
Beyond manufacturers, bioMérieux said that third-party reference laboratories are also adopting the test to expand their probiotic testing capabilities, using it as a complementary, higher-throughput option alongside sequencing for routine screening — freeing sequencing capacity for more complex analytical work.
GENE-UP PROBIOTIC SPECIES ID is the latest product to emerge from bioMérieux's xPRO programme, which pairs the company's diagnostics expertise with industry partners to develop molecular testing solutions for quality and safety challenges.
The assay is currently available only in the US, with bioMérieux signalling plans for a wider global rollout.
