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mericon Ingredient Authentication Assays

For real-time PCR authentication of food and animal feed ingredients

  • Highly sensitive and specific authentication of ingredients
  • Single, streamlined protocol for all targets
  • Dedicated mericon DNA isolation kit available
  • PCR run time of 82 minutes on the QIAGEN Rotor-Gene Q
  • Full license for PCR without additional costs

mericon Ingredient Authentication Assays are a suite of kits for target-specific authentication of food and animal feed ingredients and certain pharmaceutical product components of animal and plant origin. All of the assays use the same real-time PCR-based protocol. They are part of the comprehensive QIAGEN food testing portfolio, which also features dedicated sample preparation kits, and assays for pathogen and GMO DNA detection. mericon assays perform optimally on the Rotor-Gene Q, but have also been validated for block thermal cyclers.

Please note: The product 293015: mericon Soy Kit (96) is phasing-out by December 31, 2015 and available only while stock lasts. Please contact your customer care department. Please use product 293013: mericon Soy Kit (24) as alternative.

Cat No./ID: 292013
mericon Pig Kit (24)
$560.00
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For 24 reactions: PCR Assay Pig, Internal Control, Positive Control, Multiplex PCR Master Mix, QuantiTect Nucleic Acid Dilution Buffer, RNase-free water
Cat No./ID: 292015
mericon Pig Kit (96)
$2,087.00
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For 96 reactions: PCR Assay Pig, Internal Control, Positive Control, Multiplex PCR Master Mix, QuantiTect Nucleic Acid Dilution Buffer, RNase-free water
Cat No./ID: 292023
mericon Cattle Kit (24)
$560.00
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For 24 reactions: PCR Assay Cattle, Internal Control, Positive Control, Multiplex PCR Master Mix, QuantiTect Nucleic Acid Dilution Buffer, RNase-Free Water, 50x ROX Dye Solution
Cat No./ID: 292025
mericon Cattle Kit (96)
$2,087.00
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For 96 reactions: PCR Assay Cattle, Internal Control, Positive Control, Multiplex PCR Master Mix, QuantiTect Nucleic Acid Dilution Buffer, RNase-Free Water, 50x ROX Dye Solution
Cat No./ID: 292033
mericon Chicken Kit (24)
$560.00
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For 24 reactions: PCR Assay Chicken, Internal Control, Positive Control, Multiplex PCR Master Mix, QuantiTect Nucleic Acid Dilution Buffer, RNase-Free Water, 50x ROX Dye Solution
Cat No./ID: 292035
mericon Chicken Kit (96)
$2,087.00
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For 96 reactions: PCR Assay Chicken, Internal Control, Positive Control, Multiplex PCR Master Mix, QuantiTect Nucleic Acid Dilution Buffer, RNase-Free Water, 50x ROX Dye Solution
Cat No./ID: 292043
mericon Turkey Kit (24)
$560.00
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For 24 reactions: PCR Assay Turkey, Internal Control, Positive Control, Multiplex PCR Master Mix, QuantiTect Nucleic Acid Dilution Buffer, RNase-Free Water, 50x ROX Dye Solution
Cat No./ID: 292045
mericon Turkey Kit (96)
$2,087.00
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For 96 reactions: PCR Assay Turkey, Internal Control, Positive Control, Multiplex PCR Master Mix, QuantiTect Nucleic Acid Dilution Buffer, RNase-Free Water, 50x ROX Dye Solution
Cat No./ID: 293013
mericon Soy Kit (24)
$729.00
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For 24 reactions: PCR Assay Soy, Internal Control, Positive Control, Multiplex PCR Master Mix, QuantiTect Nucleic Acid Dilution Buffer, RNase-free water, 50x ROX Dye Solution
Cat No./ID: 293023
mericon Corn Kit (24)
$729.00
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For 24 reactions: PCR Assay Corn, Internal Control, Positive Control, Multiplex PCR Master Mix, QuantiTect Nucleic Acid Dilution Buffer, RNase-Free Water, 50x ROX Dye Solution
Cat No./ID: 293025
mericon Corn Kit (96)
$2,710.00
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For 96 reactions: PCR Assay Corn, Internal Control, Positive Control, Multiplex PCR Master Mix, QuantiTect Nucleic Acid Dilution Buffer, RNase-Free Water, 50x ROX Dye Solution
Cat No./ID: 293033
mericon Apricot Kernels Kit (24)
$729.00
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For 24 reactions: PCR Assay Apricot Kernels, Internal Control, Positive Control, Multiplex PCR Master Mix, QuantiTect Nucleic Acid Dilution Buffer, RNase-Free Water, 50x ROX Dye Solution
Cat No./ID: 293035
mericon Apricot Kernels Kit (96)
$2,710.00
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For 96 reactions: PCR Assay Apricot Kernels, Internal Control, Positive Control, Multiplex PCR Master Mix, QuantiTect Nucleic Acid Dilution Buffer, RNase-Free Water, 50x ROX Dye Solution
mericon Ingredient Authentication Assays are intended for molecular biology applications in food, animal feed, and pharmaceutical product testing. These products are not intended for the diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of a disease.
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Assays for authenticating ingredients.
Performance
mericon Apricot Kernels Kit

The mericon Apricot Kernels Kit is for the detection of matter from apricot kernels in food and animal feed. It can detect as few as 10 copies of the target DNA in a reaction and it exhibits high specificity for apricot DNA. In an experiment using 50 ng of tested DNA, no cross-reactivity was observed with matter from other plant and animal species (see the table "Results of mericon Apricot Kernels Kit cross-reactivity study").

mericon Cattle Kit

The mericon Cattle Kit is for the detection of matter of cattle origin in food and animal feed. It can detect as few as 10 copies of the target DNA in a reaction and it exhibits high specificity for cattle DNA. In an experiment using 50 ng of tested DNA, no cross-reactivity was observed with matter from other animal and plant species, including water buffalo (see the table "Results of mericon Cattle Kit cross-reactivity study").

mericon Chicken Kit

The mericon Chicken Kit is for the detection of matter of chicken origin in food and animal feed. It can detect as few as 10 copies of the target DNA in a reaction and it exhibits high specificity for chicken DNA. In an experiment using 50 ng of tested DNA, no cross-reactivity was observed with matter from other animal and plant species (see the table "Results of mericon Chicken Kit cross-reactivity study").

mericon Corn Kit

The mericon Corn Kit is for the detection of corn in food and animal feed. It can detect as few as 10 copies of the target DNA in a reaction and it exhibits high specificity for corn DNA. In an experiment using 50 ng of tested DNA, no cross-reactivity was observed with matter from other plant and animal species (see the table "Results of mericon Corn Kit cross-reactivity study").

mericon Pig Kit

The mericon Pig Kit is for the detection of matter originating from domestic pig (Sus scrofa domestica) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) in food and animal feed. It can detect as few as 10 copies of the target DNA in a reaction and it exhibits high specificity for pig and wild boar DNA. In an experiment using 50 ng of tested DNA, no cross-reactivity was observed with matter from other animal and plant species (see the table "Results of mericon Pig Kit cross-reactivity study").

mericon Soy Kit

The mericon Soy Kit is for the detection of soy (Glycine max) in food and animal feed. It can detect as few as 10 copies of the target DNA in a reaction and it exhibits high specificity for soy and Roundup Ready soy DNA. In an experiment using 50 ng of tested DNA, no cross-reactivity was observed with matter from other plant and animal species (see the table "Results of mericon Soy Kit cross-reactivity study").

mericon Turkey Kit

The mericon Turkey Kit is for the detection of matter of turkey origin in food and animal feed. It can detect as few as 10 copies of the target DNA in a reaction and it exhibits high specificity for turkey DNA. In an experiment using 50 ng of tested DNA, no cross-reactivity was observed with matter from other animal and plant species (see the table "Results of mericon Turkey Kit cross-reactivity study").

Results of mericon Apricot Kernels Kit cross-reactivity study
SpeciesResult Species Result
Apricot + Rice –
Almond – Potato –
Peach – Barley –
Plum – Wheat –
Sargent cherry – Rye –
Cherry – Cattle –
Hazelnut – Pig –
Peanut – Sheep –
Walnut – Goat –
Pecan nut – Horse –
Corn – Lupine –
Canola – Celery –
Soy – Mustard –
Results of mericon Cattle Kit cross-reactivity study
SpeciesResult Species Result
Cattle + Deer –
Water buffalo – Cod –
Turkey – Salmon –
Chicken – Rabbit –
Goose – Corn –
Duck – Soy –
Pig – Rice –
Sheep – Wheat –
Goat – Potato –
Horse –
Results of mericon Chicken Kit cross-reactivity study
SpeciesResult Species Result
Chicken + Deer –
Turkey – Cod –
Goose – Water buffalo –
Duck – Salmon –
Ostrich – Rabbit –
Cattle – Corn –
Pig – Soy –
Sheep – Rice –
Goat – Wheat –
Horse – Potato –
Results of mericon Corn Kit cross-reactivity study
SpeciesResult Species Result
Corn + Hazelnut –
Soy – Pecan nut –
Canola – Brazil nut –
Rice – Almond –
Potato – Pig –
Barley – Cattle –
Wheat – Sheep –
Rye – Goat –
Lupine – Horse
Mustard
Results of mericon Pig Kit cross-reactivity study
SpeciesResult Species Result
Domestic pig + Chicken –
Wild boar + Sheep –
Turkey – Goat –
Duck – Cattle –
Goose – Horse –
Deer – Ostrich –
Kangaroo – Reindeer –
Moose – Cod –
Salmon –
Results of mericon Soy Kit cross-reactivity study
SpeciesResult Species Result
Soy + Wheat –
Roundup Ready soy + Corn –
Potato – MON 810 corn –
Rye – CGH351 corn –
Barley – Bt176 corn –
Rice – CaMV –
Canola – Cattle –
Roundup Ready rice – Goat –
T25 corn – Pig –
NK603 corn – Sheep –
Bt11 corn – Horse –
Results of mericon Turkey Kit cross-reactivity study
SpeciesResult Species Result
Turkey + Deer –
Chicken – Cod –
Goose – Water buffalo –
Duck – Salmon –
Ostrich – Rabbit –
Cattle – Corn –
Pig – Soy –
Sheep – Rice –
Goat – Wheat –
Horse – Potato –
Principle

Authenticating ingredients using real-time PCR is based on the amplification of a specific region of the relevant target genome. The amplified product is detected using target-specific fluorescent probes that bind to the amplified product. As the PCR product accumulates, there is an increased fluorescent signal from the bound probes. Monitoring the fluorescence intensities during the PCR run (i.e., in real time) allows the detection of the accumulating PCR product without having to re-open the reaction tubes after the PCR run.

mericon PCR Assays include an internal control to control potential inhibiton. This aids in the straightforward interpretation of the results (see the table "Summary of possible PCR outcomes").

The PCR primer set for each assay is highly specific and targets either a genetic construct that is commonly used in GMOs or a DNA sequence that is specific for a particular GMO. These targets were verified bioinformatically and experimentally.

Summary of possible PCR outcomes
Internal control amplifiedTested DNA amplified Meaning
            +            +  Sample is positive for the target DNA
            +            –  Sample is negative for the target DNA
            –            –  PCR failed due to inhibition
Procedure

DNA is extracted from a sample of food or animal feed using a dedicated sample preparation kit. QIAGEN's DNeasy mericon Food Kit is suitable for a whole range of food matrices, including those with high inhibitor contents.

The isolated, pure DNA is assayed using a streamlined real-time PCR protocol that returns results in 82 minutes on QIAGEN's Rotor-Gene Q. The protocol has also been validated for use on other thermal block cyclers.

The results are displayed as easy-to-interpret PCR curves.

Applications

mericon Ingredient Authentication Assays are for real-time PCR-based detection of DNA segments from specific animal or plant material in food, animal feed, and pharmaceutical products.

Features
Specifications
Quantitative/qualitative Qualitative
Recommended sample prep DNeasy mericon Food Kit or DNeasy Plant Kits
RUO/CE/ASR RUO
Sample type Food
Thermal cycler Rotor-Gene Q and other cyclers
What detected DNA from soy and pig respectively

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