Development of a polymerase chain reaction - Nucleic acid sensor assay for the rapid detection of chicken adulteration

Abstract A simple, accurate, and affordable rapid identification technology for authenticating meat species is urgently needed in the food industry. In this study, a chicken-specific polymerase chain reaction combined with a nucleic acid sensor test (Chicken-PCR-Sensor) was developed for fast identification of chicken meat, and its feasibility was evaluated. In this work, gene specific primers and probes were uniquely designed based on certain principles. Chicken mitochondrial DNA underwent targeted amplification by PCR, and the PCR product was directly hybridized to two probes in the PCR solution without need for a secondary hybridization step. The results were assessed using a nucleic acid sensor within 2–3 min. This nucleic acid sensor test provides a visual read-out format for the rapid detection of nucleic acids in field testing. The Chicken-PCR-Sensor test was able to specifically detect chicken and was able to detect as little as 0.01% adulterated chicken in the meat mixture. The robustness of the test was successfully evaluated with commercial food samples. As a promising novel molecular detection tool, this test might have potential applications for evaluating chicken adulteration and traceability given its rapidity, high sensitivity, and simple work flow.