Thermo Scientific™ - Food Authenticity - PCR Testing for Meat Species

The RapidFinder™ Vegan ID Kit uses real-time PCR to target a mitochondrial DNA region which is conserved in all animal species, providing highly sensitive detection of any animal species. The kit supports food laboratories to check the vegan status of food products and ingredients as any item of animal origin is detected including meat, fish, eggs and dairy.

How the RapidFinder™ Vegan ID Kit Works

Animal DNA detection is accomplished by real-time PCR using two TaqMan™-MGB probes. The target sequence, detected in the FAM dye channel, specifically detects one mitochondrial DNA sequence common to all animal species.  Also included in each reaction mix is an internal positive control detected in the VIC™ dye channel, which is used to verify the absence of PCR inhibitors.

By performing a separate reaction with the included positive control, users are able to verify the system and assay are working correctly. More importantly, it enables easy data interpretation. The positive control is provided as 0.1% bovine DNA, and by comparing sample results to the control results, a threshold of detection is provided.

Sample Preparation

DNA sample preparation for the RapidFinder™ Vegan ID Kit workflow is accomplished with the easy-to-use GMO Extraction Kit (Cat. No. 4466336). Using 10 g of sample rather than the smaller sample sizes accommodated by most other DNA isolation procedures minimizes sampling errors. The GMO Extraction Kit is compatible with raw and processed foods, as well as composite food samples.

Part of a suite of solutions for meat species detection

The RapidFinder™ Vegan ID Kit is just one of our many kits available for the sensitive detection of various meat species in food and feed samples. Other RapidFinder™ meat species identification kits available include those for the detection of pork, horse, sheep, ruminant, chicken, turkey, and poultry.

Support Halal label claims by testing for the presence of pork DNA in food and feed samples to verify if any adulteration or cross-contamination has occurred in purchased ingredients or during manufacture.

How the RapidFinder™ Halal ID Kit Works

Animal DNA detection and identification is accomplished by real-time PCR using two TaqMan™-MGB probes. The target sequence, detected in the FAM dye channel, specifically detects a mitochondrial DNA sequence specific for Sus scrofa (pork). Also included in each reaction mix is an internal positive control detected in the VIC® dye channel, which is used to verify the absence of PCR inhibitors.

By performing a separate reaction with the included positive control, users are able to verify the system and assay are working correctly. More importantly, it enables easy data interpretation. The positive control is provided as 0.0005% pork DNA, and by comparing sample results to the control results, a threshold of detection is provided.

Sample preparation

DNA sample preparation for the RapidFinder™ Halal ID Kit workflow is accomplished with the easy-to-use GMO Extraction Kit (Cat. No. 4466336). Using 10 g of sample, rather than the smaller sample sizes accommodated by most other DNA isolation procedures, minimizes sampling errors. The GMO Extraction Kit is compatible with raw and processed meat, as well as composite food samples.

Part of a suite of solutions for meat species detection

The RapidFinder™ Halal ID Kit is just one of our many kits available for the sensitive detection of various meat species in food and feed samples. Other RapidFinder™ meat species identification kits available include those for the detection of beef, horse, sheep, ruminant, chicken, turkey, and poultry.

The RapidFinder™ Equine ID Kit enables the simple and reliable detection of horse meat in food and feed samples. The method works by detection of horse (Equus caballus) DNA by real-time PCR. Unlike ELISA based methods, the RapidFinder™ Equine ID Kit detects both raw and processed horse meat and provides sensitivity down to 0.01% horse meat DNA when used with the GMO Extraction Kit. A positive control is included in the kit (0.1% equine DNA) that can be used as a reference to set the threshold of detection of the assay.

How the RapidFinder™ Equine Kit Works

Equine DNA detection is accomplished by real-time PCR using the supplied primer/probe set specific for a mitochondrial DNA sequence that is unique to Equus caballus. The target sequence, detected in the FAM™ channel, is not only specific for horse, but also stable. Included in each reaction mix is an internal positive control detected in the VIC® channel, used to verify the absence of PCR inhibitors.

By performing a separate reaction with the included positive control, users are able to verify the system and assay are working correctly. More importantly, it enables easy data interpretation. The positive control is provided as 0.1% horse DNA in a background of beef DNA, and by comparing sample results to control results, a threshold of detection is provided.

The assay is compatible with Applied Biosystems® StepOne™, StepOnePlus™, 7500, 7500 Fast, and 7300 real-time PCR systems.

Sample Preparation

DNA sample preparation for the RapidFinder™ Equine ID Kit workflow is accomplished with the easy-to-use GMO Extraction Kit. Using 10 g of sample rather than the smaller sample sizes accommodated by most other DNA isolation procedures minimizes sampling errors. The GMO Extraction Kit is compatible with raw and processed meat, as well as composite food samples.