Page 32 - FoodFocusThailand No.161 August 2019

SPECIAL FOCUS
SPECIAL FOCUS

PCR and LAMP Technologies:

Food Safety Considerations when Choosing

Molecular Detection Methods

Food microbiology pathogen detection technology is constantly evolving and improving for
fast, efficient and accurate analysis. Thanks to the wide commercialization of easy-to-use
diagnostic kits, the end-user no longer needs a deep understanding of the intricacies of
diagnostic chemistries to perform the analysis. However, when navigating the selection
process in search of the technology that is best fit-for-purpose, it is critical to understand the
key differences in principle of detection and how they can impact both operations and risk.
Here, we will explore the difference between two broad categories of molecular pathogen
detection: PCR and isothermal technologies such as LAMP.

PCR & LAMP Detection Chemistries: An Overview
PCR detection chemistries have come a long way from non-specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The most prevalent
DNA-binding dyes like SYBR Green, to highly precise sequence- isothermal chemistry, Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification
specific molecular probes. The efficiency of the real-time PCR (LAMP), typically does not use molecular probes due to the lack of
reaction today allows for the use of a variety of detection probes, structure and formation consistency in its amplified products. As a
the most popular being Dual-Labeled Fluorescent Probes such as result, LAMP mostly relies on detection through non-specific signal
FRET, TaqMan probes, and Molecular Beacon probes. The precision generation like ATP bioluminescence or non-specific dyes.
of these probes is showcased in their ability to distinguish allelic

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