Company has developed a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to detect the presence of horse DNA as an adulterant of fresh meat or uncooked food products such as beef burgers. The test uses the recently released European Union Reference Laboratory for Animal Proteins (EURL-AP) recommended protocol for detection of horse DNA using real-time PCR. Using the EURL-AP's recommended sequence-specific primers and probes for horse mitochondrial DNA, an assay has been developed with a limit of detection of around 0.01 %.
Leatherhead Food Research, www.leatherheadfood.com