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The Fine Tuning of Methods

The Fine Tuning of Methods

Independently of the analytical methods accredited by Spain’s National Accreditation Entity (ENAC), the National Food Centre is continuously committed to the development, fine tuning and validation of new techniques. This also applies to those established techniques that require adaptation to new analytes and matrices. In this sense, the following are worth noting:

- The development of new non-immunological methods for the detection and quantification of the gluten content in foods, based on the extraction of DNA present in food. This is followed by the subsequent amplification of wheat, barley, rye, oats prolamin specific sequences using PCR and real-time PCR techniques.

- The development of works geared towards researching the possible presence of semicarbazide (SEM), a residue present in the sealant of lids belonging to glass containers with metal closing devices. The instrumental technique LC/MS-MS is used.

- The development and validation of the dioxin analysis method in food using high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS).

- Development and validation of analytical methods for the identification and quantification of new GMOs that are receiving authorisation in the EU in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003. This also includes GMOs that have not been authorised in the EU but are on the market in non-EU countries (USA, Canada, Japan, Argentina, etc…).

- The development and fine tuning of new analytical methods for plant protection products in foods using GC-HS and LC/MS-MS,according to a multi-residue/multi-matrix approach in the application of Technical Note 19 of ENAC.

- Analytical development and incidence and control studies on Mycotoxins, Biogenic Amines, Marine and freshwater toxins (PSP, DSP, ASP and microcystins) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons.

- Development of techniques for the determination of sulphites, nitrates, nitrites and other anions in foods that have not yet been tested but are required by the Inspection Services.

- Methodological development and study of acrylamide content in foods that have a high carbohydrate content and have been subject to technological processes that require high temperatures.

- The development, fine tuning and validation of methodologies intended to meet the new migration control needs in analytical methods for the determination of amines in materials in contact with food.

- The development and validation of analytical methods for the determination of metals in water consumed by the public. This is carried out using atomic absorption spectrophotometry, in accordance with the requirements laid down in the Spanish Royal Decree 1074/2003.

Applied research for the development of new methodologies for the control of fraudulent substances in the illegal fattening of livestock (beta-agonists, corticosteroids, antibiotics, etc.), within the National Residue Monitoring Plan for Meat and Fish (PNIR). Such controls are conducted by implementing the latest analytical technologies for increasing efficiency and safety. The improved instruments are used in the most established of techniques, such as gas and liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry or in the most sensitive and specific detectors, respectively. This includes:

  • Development of reference activities regarding beta-agonists whilst dealing with the fine tuning and validation of analytical methods using GC/MS and LC/MS-MS.
  • The development of reference activities regarding antibiotic residues, including sulphonamides and quinolones; steroidal hormones; stilbenes and stilbene derivatives; resorcylate acid lactones; corticosteroids;ß-agonists and ß-blockers; and colourants in different matrices of animal origin (muscle, liver, kidney, urine, hair, honey, eggs, etc.).
  • The development of reference activities regarding anabolic residues,amplifying analytical capacity to the gestagenic group.
  • The study of the stability of residues from various animal health products in different matrices for obtaining direct application data in the design and execution of the National Residue Monitoring Plan.
  • The assessment of the influence of different sample purification systems on the analysis of residues from animal health products in matrices of biological origin.