AlerTox® ELISA Mustard Kit

Introduction

Mustard is a common spice allergen affecting individuals of all ages. Its significant protein content, with some heat-stable allergenic proteins, necessitates clear food labeling in many regions. The AlerTox® ELISA Mustard Kit is designed for the precise detection and quantification of mustard proteins in various food matrices, including those that have undergone heating or baking processes.

This kit is part of a comprehensive series of allergen test kits from Hygiena®, enabling the detection of sixteen different allergens using a single sample extract for most. For detailed information on test sensitivity, specificity, and the underlying ELISA principle, please refer to the respective sections within this manual.

Key Features and Specifications

• Limit of Detection (LOD): 1.0 ppm (mg of whole mustard seed per kg of sample)
• Limit of Quantification (LOQ): 2.0 ppm whole mustard seed (mg/kg)
• Quantification Range: 2.0 – 50 ppm whole mustard seed
• Calculation Factor: Divide by 3.8 to convert results to ppm of mustard protein.

Test Procedure Overview

The AlerTox® ELISA Mustard Kit employs a quantitative sandwich ELISA method. The process involves:

1. Coating microtiter plate wells with primary antibodies specific to mustard proteins.
2. Incubating standards or sample extracts in the wells.
3. Washing to remove unbound material.
4. Adding peroxidase-conjugated secondary antibodies.
5. A second incubation and wash step.
6. Adding Substrate Solution for color development.
7. Stopping the reaction with Stop Solution.
8. Measuring the color intensity using an ELISA plate reader at 450 nm.

Detailed steps for reagent preparation, sample handling, and results calculation are provided within this document.

Important Considerations

• Strict adherence to the protocol, including timing, temperatures, and buffer pH, is crucial for accurate results.
• All reagents should be stored at 2 to 8 °C (36 to 46 °F) and protected from light.
• For specific sample types, such as those rich in polyphenols, tannins, or antioxidants, a specialized extraction procedure is outlined in Appendix A.

Further Information and Support

For additional information, technical support, or to access the AlerTox ELISA Calculation Worksheet, please visit the Hygiena website:

• General Information: www.hygiena.com/contact
• Technical Support: www.hygiena.com/support
• Terms and Conditions: www.hygiena.com/terms-and-conditions
• Safety Data Sheets (SDS): www.hygiena.com/SDS