Crystal Diagnostics

Detecting harmful pathogens in food is the first and most critical step to safeguarding public health. True detection takes more than speed. It calls for precision, clarity and a sharp focus on what really matters; finding live, viable threats. When results are definitive and easy to interpret, food safety teams can act fast, contain risks and stay ahead of ever-tightening regulatory demands.

Crystal Diagnostics is purpose-built for that level of accuracy. Its novel liquid crystal technology detects live foodborne pathogens, giving laboratories clear, timely results they can trust.

“We're dedicated to solving the challenge of foodborne pathogen detection, and our liquid crysal technology offers an accurate, clean and straightforward method for detecting pathogens,” says Shaun Hampton, president.

Its approach represents the kind of breakthrough the food safety industry has long awaited. Significant strides have been made, especially since the 1990s, when deadly outbreaks like the fast food E. coli crisis led to sweeping regulatory reforms. Despite these efforts, foodborne illness rates have plateaued, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Now, with USDA and FDA pushing “farm to fork” traceability systems, the demand for faster, more accurate and scalable detection solutions has never been greater.

Existing tools like polymerase chain reaction (PCR) often fall short in distinguishing between live and dead pathogens. PCR amplifies DNA from both live and dead organisms, possibly resulting in false positives and unnecessary product recalls. It’s also labor-intensive and slower to deliver results. Crystal Diagnostics eliminates these pain points by removing DNA amplification entirely and zeroing in on live pathogens.

At the heart of this capability is a biosensor that fuses antibody-coated microspheres with liquid crystals to identify pathogens through optical distortion. When a live pathogen binds to a microsphere, it disrupts the surrounding liquid crystal alignment, creating a visible disturbance that can be captured and analyzed in real-time. The outcome is a clean, binary yes-or-no answer, with none of the complexity that comes with molecular amplification methods. This significantly improves precision and reliability while removing the ambiguity that has long plagued food testing labs.

Built for the Food Safety Frontline

Crystal Diagnostics’ innovative systems didn’t emerge from a conventional product roadmap. They began as an academic quest to solve one of food safety’s biggest challenges. In collaboration with Kent State University’s Liquid Crystal D Institute and Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), a novel biosensor concept was transformed into two flagship solutions; AccuPath™ and AccuPath MAX™ . These systems bridge the gap between academic research and industry-ready application, delivering scalable, real-time pathogen detection for today’s food safety labs.

To support this transformation from concept to commercial solution, Crystal Diagnostics built a robust operational foundation. The company is headquartered in Broomfield, Colorado, with manufacturing, laboratory and cleanroom facilities located at the Kent State Centennial Research Center in Kent, Ohio, and a dedicated biological and assay development laboratory at its NEOMED campus. This infrastructure reflects the company’s deep ties to research while enabling full-scale innovation, development and production.

“After years of rigorous testing with third-party labs, government bodies and top universities, we’ve emerged as a precision-driven, customer-focused company,” says Hampton.

Bringing the innovation to life at scale, it partnered with Hamilton Robotics, a leader in precision liquid handling automation. By integrating its detection technology into Hamilton’s Microlab VANTAGE™ platform, Crystal Diagnostics fully automate a method for scalable food safety testing. The system enables lab personnel to simply load consumables and let the robotics manage the end-to-end process. With VENUS™ software orchestrating sequencing and execution, even first-time users can operate it with minimal training.

Engineered for Throughput, Designed for Precision

Now, Crystal Diagnostics is introducing the state-of-the-art AccuPath™ Series—modular pathogen detection systems built for today’s diverse food safety needs. The AccuPath™ is a highly malleable system designed for use across all food safety laboratories, integrating seamlessly into routine lab workflows. The AccuPath MAX™ is purpose-built for high-capacity production laboratories that demand rapid, high-throughput processing. With a compact, scalable footprint, both systems are ideal for internal labs at production plants or external testing facilities, enabling operations of any size to improve throughput and ensure consistent, high-quality results.

Designed with safety and precision, AccuPath™ features an enclosed housing with sensor-controlled door locks to protect samples from environmental contaminants and prevent user injuries.

In demanding environments where industry leaders operate, fast and accurate detection is essential to maintaining strict food safety protocols. These facilities often combine internal QA processes with external audits to meet federal compliance standards. AccuPath™ and AccuPath MAX™ rise to this challenge with advanced automation features, including a multi-channel robotic arm for parallel tasking, barcode tracking for full traceability, and CO-RE II™ pipetting to reduce contamination risk. It can process approximately 400 samples (excluding sample enrichment) in a single shift and up to 1200 across three shifts, significantly outperforming traditional systems while minimizing the need for additional units.

Complementing the AccuPath™ series’ speed and scale is a strong focus on sustainability. The series includes reusable consumables and an automated pipette tip-cleaning function to reduce single-use plastic, an increasingly important factor for labs wanting to balance efficiency with environmental responsibility. The packaging is also designed with minimal plastic, reinforcing Crystal Diagnostics’ commitment to eco-conscious lab operations.

Delivering Trusted Results with Proven Regulatory Backing

Crystal Diagnostics backs its science with rigorous regulatory validation, earning AOAC approvals across a broad range of assays and food matrices. From Salmonella, O157:H7 and Listeria to matrices such as pasteurized egg products, chicken rinsate and whole tomatoes, each assay undergoes independent validation to meet the highest standards. Just as important, the company remains highly customer-focused, actively listening to feedback and continually expanding its assay portfolio in response to real-world food safety needs.

These validations were initially completed using the AutoXpress prototype, an early-generation system that laid the groundwork for Crystal’s commercial platforms. While not commercially viable, AutoXpress enabled the company to secure AOAC validations across a wide range of food matrices, establishing a strong scientific basis for its next-generation AccuPath™ and AccuPath MAX™ systems. As part of the transition, Crystal Diagnostics revalidated each assay under the new systems, reinforcing its commitment to accuracy and compliance. It is also actively finalizing ISO certifications to meet international food safety standards.

Its commitment to validation extends to real-world use. Collaborations with leading third-party laboratories and food companies have ensured that its detection platforms meet the practical needs of diverse clients. These partnerships reinforced the platform's reliability and effectiveness in food safety testing environments.

Powering the Next Phase of Diagnostic Innovation

Behind the innovation is a team with highly specialized expertise. Since the application of liquid crystal biosensor technology isn’t widely taught or used, Crystal Diagnostics built a talent pipeline through its academic collaborations. With prototypes installed at numerous universities including the world-renowned Texas A&M Meat Science Facility, research scholars get hands-on experience. Many of them later join the company, bringing rare, firsthand knowledge that drives product development and engineering efforts.

The team’s engineering strength lies in optical and photonic innovation. These specialists work at the intersection of imaging, refraction and data interpretation, critical capabilities for refining and evolving the platform.

Looking ahead, Crystal Diagnostics is expanding on multiple fronts, from assay development and tailored support for third-party labs to international growth. It is engaging with global food producers and large diagnostic networks to bring its novel technology into new application areas, including veterinary diagnostics and point-of-care human health testing. As part of this effort, it conducted a formal trial in Spain and Portugal with a large global third-party laboratory group. The results confirmed that the platform aligns well with PetVet diagnostics and even some human medical applications—setting the stage for adoption beyond food safety.

As part of its push for accessibility and scale, Crystal Diagnostics is enhancing its training infrastructure. A VR-based training tool is being developed to reduce onboarding time and eliminate the need for on-site instruction. This is especially beneficial in high turnover or remote locations. Complementing this is an interactive training suite within the company’s intuitive VENUS™ software, designed to support rapid adoption across labs of all sizes.

Combining novel diagnostics with global readiness, Crystal Diagnostics is moving food safety forward while opening the door to the next frontier in veterinary and human health testing.