Two tetraplex real-time PCR for the detection and quantification of DNA from eight allergens in food

According to the EU and Swiss legislation, food has to be labelled for allergens to enable allergic consumers to avoid such food and its products. To provide efficient and reliable methods, two novel quantitative multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction systems were developed and validated. They simultaneously determine DNA of peanut, hazelnut, celery, soy, egg, milk, almond and sesame, respectively. The tests exhibit good specificity and sensitivity in the range of 0.01%. Due to low DNA amounts, lower sensitivities for egg and milk were obtained. First comparisons of ELISA results with PCR results suggest a qualitative accordance, but a low correlation of quantitative results.