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Nucleic acid extraction from food samples

Nucleic acid extraction from food samples

Our nucleic acid isolation kits are suitable for difficult food samples and provide high yields of pure nucleic acids, e.g. from highly processed foods, fatty foods or foods with a high content of phytochemicals such as polyphenols. They ensure accurate and reproducible results in downstream applications such as PCR with our InviScreen® detection kits, which are available for a wide range of target parameters in allergen testing, GMO and foodborne pathogen analysis.

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FAQs

  • 1. What is nucleic acid extraction from food samples, and why is it important?

    Nucleic acid extraction from food samples is the process of isolating DNA or RNA from food matrices to enable downstream molecular analysis. It is essential for applications such as allergen detection, GMO identification, foodborne pathogen analysis, and food authenticity testing — ensuring food safety, regulatory compliance, and product labelling accuracy.

  • 2. What kits does Invitek offer for food DNA/RNA extraction?

    Invitek offers a range of kits tailored to different workflows:

    • InviSorb® Spin Food Kit – for manual DNA extraction
    • InviSorb® Spin Food Kit Add-On – for processing higher sample volumes
    • InviMag® Food Kit – for automated/semi-automated DNA isolation using magnetic bead technology
    • InviPrep® Fast Lysis Buffer – for ultra-fast DNA extraction from bacteria and fungi in pre-enriched food samples
    • InviMag® Pathogen Kit – automated pathogen nucleic acid isolation
    • InviSorb® Lyo Pathogen Kit – manual pathogen nucleic acid isolation with lyophilised tubes for higher sample input
  • 3. What types of food samples can Invitek's kits process?

    Invitek's kits are designed for a wide range of food and feed matrices, including:

    • Fresh, frozen, and dried food materials
    • Processed and unprocessed foods containing meat, leaves, roots, fruits, or seeds
    • Highly processed ready meals with degraded DNA
    • Fatty foods and spice-rich foods
    • Foods with high phytochemical content such as polyphenols
  • 5. What is the InviSorb® Spin Food Kit and how does it work?

    The InviSorb® Spin Food Kit is a manual DNA extraction kit based on spin column technology. It provides a quick and streamlined method for isolating high-quality genomic DNA from food and feed samples. It is particularly effective for fatty foods, heavily processed meals, and spice-heavy products. The standard protocol handles up to 200 mg of sample, with linear upscaling available via the Add-On kit.

  • 6. What is the InviMag® Food Kit and which instruments is it compatible with?

    The InviMag® Food Kit is a magnetic bead-based kit for semi-automated DNA isolation from food samples of plant and animal origin. It is compatible with major magnetic bead platforms including:

    • KingFisher™ Flex and KingFisher™ Duo (ThermoFisher)
    • Auto-Pure 96 and Auto-Pure Mini (Allsheng)
    • InviGenius® 96

    Run protocols for each instrument are provided in the kit documentation and on the Invitek website.

  • 7. Can Invitek's food extraction kits also isolate pathogen DNA from food samples?

    Yes. The InviMag® Food Kit can co-purify DNA from pathogens such as bacteria alongside genomic food DNA. For dedicated pathogen detection, Invitek also offers the InviPrep® Fast Lysis Buffer, InviSorb® Lyo Pathogen Kit, and InviMag® Pathogen Kit, each optimised for high-sensitivity bacterial DNA or viral RNA/DNA isolation from food samples.

  • 8. What downstream applications are Invitek's food extraction kits compatible with?

    Extracted nucleic acids are suitable for a range of molecular biology applications, including:

    • PCR and qPCR (quantitative PCR)
    • RT-PCR (reverse transcription PCR for RNA targets)
    • Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)
    • Multiplex PCR for simultaneous detection of multiple targets
    • Pairing directly with InviScreen® detection kits for allergen, GMO, pathogen, and food authenticity testing
  • 10. What is the InviPrep® Fast Lysis Buffer and when should it be used?

    The InviPrep® Fast Lysis Buffer enables ultra-fast DNA extraction from bacteria and fungi present in pre-enriched food samples. It is ideal for food safety workflows requiring rapid pathogen screening without lengthy extraction procedures, making it suited to high-throughput food testing laboratories.

  • 14. Are Invitek's food nucleic acid extraction kits validated or certified?

    Invitek Diagnostics holds ISO certifications and some products carry CE-IVD marking. Their products are designed to deliver accurate, reproducible results in regulated food testing environments. Specific product certifications should be confirmed directly on the Invitek website or by contacting the company.