SmartExtraction and Photometric Evaluation with ScanDrop² and Butterfly Cuvette for the Detection of Genetically Modified Organisms and Food Pathogens Application Note · ScanDrop²

Introduction

Quality control of food is an important topic worldwide, the importance of which will only continue to increase in the years to come. Detection of genetically modified organisms and of food pathogens plays an important role in food quality control and is carried out every day all around the world. In order to be able to detect the substance of interest, it must first be isolated and then evaluated.

The amount of available starting material can sometimes lead to challenges. Sometimes the required amount of starting material for testing, as given by various regulations, is greater than the quantity that can be handled with a standard extraction kit. In other cases, the amount of starting material is limited, and it is important to extract the maximum quantity of the target DNA possible. This is critical, as a sufficient volume is needed for the proper evaluation of the quality and concentration of the sample, then a sufficient volume is needed for the detection of the substance of interest (target DNA) and a minimum volume must also remain available as a retention sample.

Analytik Jena offers a solution by combining the novel SmartExtraction Technology and the ScanDrop² spectrophotometer with the unique Butterfly Cuvette.

Smart Extraction makes it possible to start with a higher amount of material resulting in a higher yield of extracted DNA, as compared to standard extraction techniques. The ScanDrop² with the Butterfly Cuvette requires only micro volumes, down to 2 μl, of the extracted material to properly and reliably evaluate the concentration and purity of the extracted sample.

The Butterfly Cuvette has the additional benefit of allowing 8 samples to be measured in parallel with one reference, increasing throughput and saving time. Furthermore, the small path length of 0.5 mm makes it possible to detect high concentration of the target solution without the need for additional dilution. Because no consumables are needed, further cost and time savings are possible.