Mass spectrometry

Mass spectrometry (MS) allows direct detection of proteins or peptides at a low level, similar to what happens with ELISA and PCR methods, which will possibly make it one of the most important and widely used methods in the immediate future, positioning it as a viable confirmation option.

One of the great advantages of EM technology over direct detection technologies such as ELISA and PCR tests is that in a single analysis it is capable of analyzing multiple allergens, a technique known as "SCREENING".

Another potential of this method is the detection of weight, which causes a minor impact during processing, unlike antibody-based methods that detect the structure, which tends to vary during the transformation process.

During sample extraction, peptide fragments are cleaved by the enzyme trypsin and these peptides are identified for accurate allergen detection.

Peptides can become highly modified in analyses of highly processed foods, which can influence the identification of the peptides and consequently the detection of the allergenic substance.

To ensure the reliability of the analysis results, matrix verification must be carried out, as is the case with other methods.

The performance of EM technology is very high, because the proces