New Lateral Flow Tests and Elisa: Easy Analysis of Allergen Residues in Food

Ulrike Immer, Karl Schmitt, Kurt Johnson R-Biopharm AG, Landwehrstrasse 54, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany

R-Biopharm AG, Landwehrstrasse 54, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany

New legal provisions in Europe and the USA demand the control and indication of the "big eight allergens" in food. Among this, peanut and hazelnut rank with the most dangerous food allergens, able to induce fatal anaphylaxis. Beside the allergen in food ELISA line, R-Biopharm AG enlarges the QUICK allergen series with two lateral flow immunochromatic test systems for hazelnut and peanut. This tests are intended for the qualitative analysis in food products like cereals, cookies, chocolate and ice cream and for checking of environmental surfaces. If the nut is present, - a blue line appears. A control line is formed in each case, indicating a proper run regardless of nut is present or not. The strips are able to detect samples at 5 ppm after ten minutes. One test kit contains 25 devices. As a new tool to determine gliadin peptide fragments we present data with a new Gliadin competitive assay which is suitable for use of fermented products.