Inter-laboratory Validation Study of Two Commercial Lateral Flow Devices for the Detection of Peanut Proteins in Cookies

Abstract

The results of an inter-laboratory study with two commercially available lateral flow devices (dipstick tests) designed to detect peanut residues in food matrices are reported. The test samples used in this study were cookies containing peanut at seven different concentrations in the range of 0 – 30 mg peanut per kg food matrix. The test samples with sufficient and proven homogeneity were prepared in our laboratory. The analyses of the samples (5 times per level and each laboratory) were performed by 18 laboratories worldwide that submitted in total 1 260 analytical results. One laboratory was found to be an outlier for one of the test kits. In general, both test kits performed well. However, there were some false-negative results in all matrices below 21 mg peanut/kg cookie. It must be stressed that the test kits were challenged beyond their cut-off limits (5 mg/kg or more depending on the food matrix). One test kit showed less false-negative results whereas it led to some false-positives in the blank materials. The sensitivity of the dipstick tests is comparable to what can be achieved with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).JRC.D.8-Food safety and qualit