A new method for the rapid detection of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus), Alaska pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) and ling (Molva molva) using a lateral flow dipstick assay

- A very fast method for the authentication of cod, Alaska pollock and ling was developed.
- A DNA specific PCR coupled with easy detection using a lateral flow dipstick assay was the basis of the analysis method.
- The developed method was successfully applied to 31 commercial products.

Species-specific lateral flow dipstick (LFD) assays for the identification of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus), Alaska pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) and ling (Molva molva) in food products were developed. The method comprises a PCR system with four sets of specific primers, for each target species. This step was also devised to dual-labeling of PCR products with biotin and 6-FAM, which are then easily read on a lateral flow dipstick, upon which these products are immobilized by a fixed biotin-ligand and visualized with anti-FAM antibody-coated gold nanoparticles. Sensitivity and selectivity were determined for each of the developed assays. Validation of the assays was performed with DNA extracted from commercial fish products, the identification of all samples by PCR-LFD was coherent with the results found with DNA sequencing. Target species were successfully detected in analyzed commercial samples, demonstrating the applicability of this method to the rapid analysis of food products.