In the industry, food safety is a top priority. The presence of pathogens in food can cause serious consequences for those who consume it, generating important economic and public health repercussions.
Therefore, rapid and accurate detection of pathogens is essential to prevent outbreaks and protect the health of consumers.
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Advances in rapid pathogen detection
In recent years, significant progress has been made in the development of rapid methods for the detection of food pathogens, these methods offer several advantages over traditional culture-based methods, such as:
- The greatest speed
- The highest sensitivity
- The ability to detect multiple pathogens simultaneously.
Among the most notable quick methods are:
- Molecular techniques: Real-time PCR, enzyme-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and next-generation sequencing (NGS) are some of the most widely used molecular techniques for the detection of food pathogens. These techniques allow specific pathogens to be identified with great precision and speed.
- Biosensors: Biosensors are devices that use biomolecules such as antibodies or enzymes to detect pathogens, they are portable, easy to use and relatively inexpensive, making them ideal for use in field settings.
- Microfluidic systems: Microfluidic systems allow laboratory analyzes to be miniaturized, reducing time, cost and the amount of sample needed. They can also be integrated with molecular techniques and biosensors to create highly sensitive, portable detection devices.
Continue reading: New methods for detecting pathogens in food: a path to safety
Trends in agile pathogen detection
Research and development in the field of rapid detection of food pathogens continues to advance at a rapid pace, some of the most promising include:
- Development of multiplex methods: These methods allow multiple pathogens to be detected simultaneously in a single sample, increasing efficiency and reducing costs.
- Integration of artificial intelligence: Artificial intelligence can be used to analyze pathogen detection data and identify patterns that could indicate the presence of emerging or unknown pathogens.
- Development of wearable devices: Portable pathogen detection devices will enable fast and accurate testing anywhere, facilitating food safety surveillance and outbreak response.
The use of advanced molecular techniques and in situ biosensors is redefining food safety standards, allowing companies to react quickly to potential threats and protect consumers.
