Project

Speerpunt 2 - Detecteren

Detecting substances in complex matrices is a core task of WFSR within WOT-FS. In addition to targeted measurement of compounds, measuring profiles in combination with statistical evaluation for authenticity issues and finding differences and trends in datasets is becoming increasingly important within WFSR. This KB project focuses on different aspects of detection. For example, there is an ongoing development of new measurement techniques, and also, in 2022, new detectors will be introduced. Developments of detectors that are important for WFSR are closely followed and, when relevant, will be further evaluated. These evaluations provide direct added value for WFSR and thus for WOT-FS.

Next to laboratory-based measurements, on-site detectors are also being developed and evaluated. On-site sample pre-treatment, measurements, and confirmation strategies will be developed for traditional, small contaminants (e.g pesticides, antibiotics, biotoxins) and DNA.

Besides DNA, other groups of macromolecules are relevant for food and feed safety, such as proteins and peptides (e.g. bacterial toxins). WFSR has limited knowledge and few operational detection techniques available for such compounds. Analytical tools for these macromolecules will be set up.
These examples show that WFSR should analyze an increasingly diverse set of compounds, and it is therefore necessary to increase the efficiency of the lab and on-site analysis. For example, it is possible to analyze samples or sample extracts without chromatographic pre-separation. This allows the analyses to be performed in a few seconds to increase the sample throughput.

In addition, by combining different detectors and/or data sources, more information can be extracted from a sample. Full-scan accurate mass (hrMS) MS data is currently being generated in several WOT projects, allowing more compounds to be measured simultaneously. Automatic integration and identification are therefore needed. It is also important to (automatically) link hrMS measurement data with other data sources to make sense of the results.

Publications