The present invention relates to a monoclonal antibody binding specifically to the p60 protein of Listeria monocytogenes, a hybridoma cell producing the monoclonal antibody, a test kit comprising the monoclonal antibody, and a method for detecting Listeria monocytogenes using the monoclonal antibody. The inventive monoclonal selectively recognizes only Listeria monocytogenes, so that the use of such an antibody allows for rapid determination of the food contamination with these bacteria pathogenic to humans.