Food PCR

Companies in the food production and processing industry as well as food laboratories have to be aware of a variety of possible food contaminants. Different chemical and biological compounds such as solvent residues, heavy metals, toxins as well as allergens that may be present in food can be harmful to the consumer. Common technologies for the detection of such compounds include e. g. different chromatographic and spectrometric food analysis methods, but also biotechnological methods like food ELISA tests for allergen analysis.

ELISAs are also often used for the detection of microbial food contaminants. They rely on the presence of certain antigens in a sample. The most specific way to verify the presence of foodborne pathogens, however, is the application of gene-specific methods for pathogen detection in food. PCR (polymerase chain reaction) has become a widely accepted molecular biological technology in food laboratories because of its superior time-to-result combined with highest specificity and sensitivity.

Food PCR utilizes specific primer pairs and the enzyme polymerase to amplify the DNA of food pathogens, i. e. to create billions of copies of microbial DNA even if just very few cells are present in a sample. Thus, very high sensitivity is given for the detection of pathogens in food. PCR products can be made visible in real-time by using sequence-specific probes that are labeled with fluorescent dyes. Thus, no further handling steps are required after the PCR run and the risk of cross-contamination is minimized.

BIOTECON Diagnostics has superior expertise in food PCR and offers a broad range of real-time PCR kits for the detection of foodborne pathogens and spoilage organisms. Furthermore, the company provides products for the rapid and easy extraction of DNA from various food sample matrices.

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