Heptaplex real-time PCR for the identification and quantification of DNA from beef, pork, chicken, turkey, horse meat, sheep (mutton) and goat

Meat products are often composed of meat from several species. Due to fraud or incorrect manufacturing processes, different proportions of unexpected or undeclared meat may be incorporated. Pork, beef, chicken, turkey, horse meat, sheep (mutton) and goat are the most common types of meat in these products. To measure the fractional proportion of each of the seven meat types simultaneously, a quantitative multiplex PCR has been developed. This system has proven its applicability in the examination of meat compounds with fractional proportions between 2 and 100%. The uncertainty was 32% or better. In a single analytical step, the multiplex PCR identifies and in certain cases quantifies the most probable species of composed meat products. Additionally, this study illustrates that by using dyes with different wavelength shifts, more targets can be distinguished than channels provided for by the Rotorgene 6000® thermocycler.