A Spanish biotechnology company is specialized in the development, production and commercialisation of diagnostics in vitro tests for the food and environment fields. The company has over 10 year of experience in the development of innovative solutions. All its development, production and commercialization processes are ISO 9001 certified, ensuring traceability in all their products.

The company has developed a range of test kits for detection of food allergens in different food matrices. These kits are based on the antigen-antibody binding, and therefore they are able to detect specifically the presence of food allergens in food samples and surfaces. There are two different presentations: Immunochemical Elisa test kits and Lateral Flow Immunochromatographic test kits (LFIC).

Elisa test kits allow calculate the concentration of food allergens in the sample using a standard curve. The LFIC tests are easy to perform and without specific instrumental and personnel allow a qualitative interpretation of the presence of allergens.

It is estimated that the 2% of kids and the 8% of grown-ups have some type of food allergy. The only treatment is to avoid the ingestion of the ingredient which causes this allergy. For this reason, the allergic individuals must know the composition of the food to avoid their consumption.

Several laws, such as the Food allergen labelling and consumers protection Act in USA and Directive 2007/68/EC in the European Union, obliges to mention on the food label all the ingredients that could cause allergic reactions or food intolerances.

The newly-developed test kits allow the food industry to assure, in an easy and quick way, a correct food labelling according to the regulations; and constitute an effective tool for the quality self-control.

The company is looking for partners interested in implementing this line of products, reaching commercial agreements with technical assistance. In addition, the company is also open to discussions on research projects for further applications of the tests, reaching technical cooperation agreements.

Innovative Aspects:
The main innovations of these kits are:
- Very sensitive test kits.
- Detects specifically allergenic proteins: test based on the immunological technology.
- For LFIC: very easy procedure: easy sample extraction plus one step assay. No qualify personal is required.
- Fast: 5-10 minutes after extraction in LFIC and 45 minutes - 1,5 hours in ELISA.
- High turnover of samples: a total of 44 samples can be run in less than one hour (samples and standards are tested in duplicate).
- Minimum equipment required: water bath at 60ºC and plate reader at 450 nm.
- Additional procedure for detection of food allergens in surfaces.

 

Patents/Rights: Secret know-how

Type of Organisation: