mericon MeatTracker Kit

The mericon MeatTracker Kit uses real-time PCR to sensitively and specifically detect the presence of animal DNA in food samples. If animal DNA is detected, you can quickly identify the contaminating species using mericon Animal ID Assay Kits. All mericon kits use the same cycling protocol, so multiple different analyses can be performed in the same instrument run. The mericon MeatTracker Kit can detect as few as 10 copies of DNA in a sample.

The mericon MeatTracker Kit is a ready-to-use system for detection of specific DNA fragments from animal species in food, animal feed and pharmaceutical products using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The mericon MeatTracker Kit is designed for use with one or more of the following mericon Animal Identification Assays (see the table "mericon Animal ID Assays").

Specificity
The mericon MeatTracker Kit exhibits high specificity for animal species DNA. The kit was tested against an extensive inclusivity panel of various vertebrate species and an exclusivity panel of non-vertebrate species. No cross-reactivity was observed with species using 2500 copies of tested DNA (see table "Results from cross-reactivity experiments with the mericon MeatTracker Kit).

Animal species detection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is based on the amplification of a specific region of the relevant species genome. In real-time PCR, the amplified product is detected via target-specific fluorescent probes that bind to the amplified product. Accumulation of PCR product results in 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.

The probes of mericon PCR Assays are sequence-specific oligonucleotides with a fluorophore and a quencher moiety attached. The fluorophore is at the 5' end of the probe, and the quencher moiety is located at the 3' end. If the target DNA sequence is present, the probe is cleaved by the 5'-->3' exonuclease activity of HotStarTaq Plus DNA Polymerase during the extension phase of PCR. This separates the fluorophore and the quencher moiety, resulting in a detectable fluorescence that is proportional to the amount of accumulated PCR product.

The PCR primer set for each assay is highly specific and targets a unique and conserved DNA region of the tested species genome that is verified bioinformatically and experimentally. Cross-reactivity has been bioinformatically investigated and thoroughly tested with a panel of selected targets for each mericon PCR Assay. Each assay can detect as few as 10 target copies of each target in a reaction.

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 73 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.