Food Authenticity qPCR Kits

FAQs

• 1. What is food authenticity testing and why is it important?

  Food authenticity testing verifies that a food product contains exactly what its label claims — and nothing more. It protects against adulteration, mislabelling, and fraud in the food supply chain, and ensures compliance with food labelling regulations. Key applications include confirming species composition, detecting undeclared animal-derived ingredients, verifying halal or vegan/vegetarian claims, identifying GMO content, and detecting undeclared fish species. With increasingly complex global supply chains, food authenticity testing has become a critical component of quality assurance and consumer trust.

• 2. What food authenticity testing products does Invitek offer?

  Invitek's food authenticity portfolio under the InviScreen® brand covers four key application areas, all based on real-time PCR (qPCR) technology:

  Product	Application
  InviScreen® Swine Halal Speciation Kit	Detection of swine (porcine) DNA for halal compliance
  InviScreen® Vegan Identification LyoKit	Detection of vertebrate animal DNA for vegan/vegetarian claim verification
  InviScreen® Fish DNA Detection Kit	Detection of undeclared fish DNA for species/authenticity verification
  InviScreen® GMO Detection Kits	Detection of GMO sequences in food and feed (see GMO page)

• 3. What is the InviScreen® Swine Halal Speciation Kit and how does it work?

  The InviScreen® Swine Halal Speciation Kit is a real-time PCR method for the qualitative detection of swine (Sus scrofa) DNA in food, feed, and environmental samples. It is designed to help manufacturers and testing laboratories verify the halal integrity of products by identifying any contamination or undeclared inclusion of porcine-origin material. Key features include:

  • Detection of swine DNA down to 0.0001% sensitivity — an exceptionally high level of precision
  • Suitable for raw materials, finished products, and environmental surface swabs

• 4. What sample types can be tested with the InviScreen® Swine Halal Speciation Kit?

  The kit is suitable for all food and feed sample types that are compatible with PCR analysis, including:

  • Raw materials and finished products — in powdered, granulated, or homogenised form
  • Processed food products with multiple ingredients (thorough homogenisation recommended)
  • Environmental surface swabs — collected using pre-moistened swabs in distilled water or sterile saline solution rubbed over a 100 cm² (e.g. 10 cm x 10 cm) surface area

  This makes it versatile for use across the entire food production and supply chain, from raw ingredient intake through to final product release.

• 5. What is the InviScreen® Vegan Identification LyoKit and what does it detect?

  The InviScreen® Vegan Identification LyoKit is a lyophilised (freeze-dried) real-time PCR kit for the qualitative detection of vertebrate animal DNA in food samples and raw materials. It is designed to support:

  • Vegan claim verification — screening for any undeclared animal-derived ingredients
  • Vegetarian product testing — confirming the absence of vertebrate animal material
  • Cross-contamination monitoring — detecting trace animal DNA that may have entered plant-based products inadvertently

  The lyophilised format offers enhanced stability, extended shelf life, and simplified handling compared to liquid-format kits.

• 6. Why is a lyophilised (LyoKit) format beneficial for food authenticity testing?

  Lyophilised kits offer several practical advantages for food testing laboratories:

  • Extended shelf life — freeze-dried reagents are stable for longer periods without refrigeration during transport
  • Simplified logistics — reduced cold-chain dependency makes distribution and storage easier
  • Consistent performance — pre-measured, dry reagents minimise pipetting variability and reduce the risk of user error
  • Higher throughput capacity — the Vegan Identification LyoKit format supports more reactions per kit

  This makes LyoKits particularly well-suited for high-volume testing environments or laboratories in regions where cold-chain infrastructure is limited.

• 7. What is the InviScreen® Fish DNA Detection Kit used for in food authenticity?

  The InviScreen® Fish DNA Detection Kit provides a real-time PCR method for the qualitative detection of fish DNA in food, feed, and surface swab samples. In the context of food authenticity, it is used to:

  • Screen for undeclared fish-derived material in processed food products
  • Verify ingredient declarations on food labels
  • Monitor cross-contact with fish DNA in complex food matrices where fish allergens or species substitution may be a concern

  This kit bridges both the allergen detection and food authenticity applications within Invitek's portfolio.

• 8. How is Invitek's food authenticity testing workflow set up?

  Invitek's food authenticity workflow follows a streamlined two-step qPCR setup:

  1. DNA Extraction — using either the manual InviSorb® Spin Food Kit, or the semi-automated InviMag® Food Kit
  2. PCR Detection — combine the qPCR master mix and primer/probe mix (10 µl each per reaction) — ready to use immediately, with no additional water or complex reaction preparation required

  This simplified setup minimises hands-on time and reduces the risk of error or cross-contamination.

• 9. Which DNA extraction kits does Invitek recommend for food authenticity testing?

  Invitek recommends using the manual InviSorb® Spin Food Kit or the semi-automated InviMag® Food Kit as the primary extraction solutions prior to food authenticity testing. The kits offer fast, reliable DNA isolation from a wide variety of food matrices — including processed foods and ready-to-eat products. The extracted DNA integrates seamlessly into InviScreen® PCR workflows, ensuring optimal sensitivity and consistency.

• 10. How does Invitek's food authenticity portfolio fit within a broader food testing strategy?

  Invitek's food authenticity kits are designed to integrate seamlessly with their wider InviScreen® food testing ecosystem, which also covers:

  • Allergen detection (PCR, ELISA, and lateral flow)
  • GMO detection (ISO 21569-based qPCR)
  • Foodborne pathogen detection (ISO-compliant qPCR for bacteria and viruses)

  Together, these solutions provide food manufacturers, contract laboratories, and regulatory bodies with a complete molecular testing platform — from nucleic acid extraction through to target detection — all from a single supplier. This modular approach simplifies procurement, validation, and workflow integration across multiple food safety and quality parameters.