Real-Time PCR Assay for the Detection and Quantification of Roe Deer to Detect Food Adulteration-Interlaboratory Validation Involving Laboratories in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.

Barbara Druml,Margit Cichna-Markl,Kirsten Simon,Kirstin Frost,Rupert Hochegger,Steffen Uhlig,Karina Hettwer

doi:10.3390/foods10112645

Abstract

Game meat products are particularly prone to be adulterated by replacing game meat with cheaper meat species. Recently, we have presented a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the identification and quantification of roe deer in food. Quantification of the roe deer content in % (w/w) was achieved relatively by subjecting the DNA isolates to a reference real-time PCR assay in addition to the real-time PCR assay for roe deer. Aiming at harmonizing analytical methods for food authentication across EU Member States, the real-time PCR assay for roe deer has been tested in an interlaboratory ring trial including 14 laboratories from Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Participating laboratories obtained aliquots of DNA isolates from a meat mixture containing 24.8% (w/w) roe deer in pork, roe deer meat, and 12 meat samples whose roe deer content was not disclosed. Performance characteristics included amplification efficiency, level of detection (LOD95%), repeatability, reproducibility, and accuracy of quantitative results. With a relative reproducibility standard deviation ranging from 13.35 to 25.08% (after outlier removal) and recoveries ranging from 84.4 to 114.3%, the real-time PCR assay was found to be applicable for the detection and quantification of roe deer in raw meat samples to detect food adulteration.

Highlights

The roe deer content in % (w/w) was calculated by relating the DNA concentration determined by the roe deer real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to the DNA concentration determined by the reference real-time PCR assay
Results obtained in the interlaboratory ring trial demonstrate the applicability of the real-time PCR assay for the detection and quantification of roe deer in meat samples to detect food adulteration
In ten out of eleven meat samples, the roe deer content was determined with satisfactory reproducibility and accuracy

Summary

Introduction

Assay for the identification and quantification of roe deer in food. Quantification of the roe deer content in % (w/w) was achieved relatively by subjecting the DNA isolates to a reference real-time. Aiming at harmonizing analytical methods for food authentication across EU Member States, the real-time PCR assay for roe deer has been tested in an interlaboratory ring trial including 14 laboratories from Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Participating laboratories obtained aliquots of DNA isolates from a meat mixture containing 24.8% (w/w) roe deer in pork, roe deer meat, and 12 meat samples whose roe deer content was not disclosed. With a relative reproducibility standard deviation ranging from 13.35 to 25.08% (after outlier removal) and recoveries ranging from 84.4 to 114.3%, the real-time PCR assay was found to be applicable for the detection and quantification of roe deer in raw meat samples to detect food adulteration.

Methods

Results

Conclusion