Location: Croese room
The laboratory is digitizing. Measuring equipment is becoming more compact and with the arrival of cloud-based working we are seeing a shift from analysis in the lab to analysis on location. Such mobile analysis methods are already used in food safety and forensic research, but also have many other application areas. During the mobile analysis methods seminar, three speakers from different fields will explain how they analyze their samples outside the lab and which technologies they use.
| Time | Subject | |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 – 10:30 | Food safety in the palm of your hand: The power of rapid testing and miniaturization (EN) Speaker: Arjen Gerssen, Wageningen University & Research | More information |
| 11:00-11:30 | On-Site Contaminant Monitoring: The Power of Lateral Flow Immunoassays (ENG) Speaker: Ariadni Geballa-Koukoula, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam | |
| 10:30 – 11:00 | The role of mobile online sensors in drinking water distribution (NL) Speaker: Adrie Atsma, Vitens Water Expertise Center | More information |
Technological advances in smartphones and the miniaturization of laboratory equipment are fundamentally changing the future of analysis and research. In the context of food safety, there are already many developments in which Wageningen Food Safety Research (WFSR) is involved. The corona pandemic has led to a wider awareness of rapid tests, which has contributed to a better understanding of their usefulness. These types of tests can quickly provide insight into the safety of food or animal feed.
Smartphones, with their powerful cameras, GPS functionality and internet connectivity, offer new opportunities to interpret these test results faster and more accurately. They can be coupled with various detection techniques, allowing food safety inspectors and consumers to test their food for contaminants such as allergens and contaminants. Thanks to miniaturization, there are now also NIR devices the size of a packet of mints and portable DNA sequencers, which can be deployed quickly and on site.
These innovations provide an initial screening result, after which further laboratory analysis is needed to confirm results and accurately determine the concentration of specific substances. AI is also playing an increasing role in more efficient data analysis in the laboratory. These developments will significantly change the design of laboratories and the role of analysts in the future.
Ensuring consumer safety and regulatory compliance requires monitoring contaminants in (agricultural) products. On-the-go analysis techniques, especially for assessing pesticide residues, are crucial. Our research meets this demand by developing two innovative methodologies tailored for mobile analysis, utilizing lateral flow immunoassays (LFIAs). LFIAs, akin to those used in self-tests for COVID-19, are rapid diagnostic, cost-effective and versatile tests using antibodies for on-site detection a targeted substance in a sample.
Firstly, we introduce a high-sensitivity, semi-quantitative LFIA optimized for detecting sulfoxaflor in flowers. Sulfoxaflor, a sulfoximine insecticide, has raised environmental concerns, particularly regarding pollinator safety, leading to its prohibition in the EU in 2022. With a limit of detection (LOD) of 4 ppb, this LFIA offers reliable screening capabilities. The method's extraction simplicity and proven performance by analyzing flowers from the Dutch market make it ideal for widespread use, especially in scenarios where mobile testing is crucial.
Expanding on the concept of mobile analysis, we present a novel approach that integrates LFIA with on-site sampling using modified dried blood spot (DBS) cards. We developed the SmartCard, a 3D-printed cassette that securely stores sample extracts on Dried Extract Spots (DExS) cards (a custom-made variation of the DBS). This approach not only enhances workflow efficiency but also incorporates immediate LFIA screening for contamination levels, enabling real-time assessment capabilities and streamlining transportation to laboratories. This method, tested for detecting the pesticide fipronil in ornamental flowers and poultry farms, allows simplified on-syringe extraction, direct LFIA screening of fipronil with an LOD of 10 ppb, and easy extract storage and transportation.
By combining these methodologies, we address the urgent need for precise, on-the-go assessment of contaminant presence. These advancements not only improve detection methodologies for specific compounds but also lay the groundwork for broader applications in mobile contaminant monitoring.
Speaker: Ariadni Geballa-Koukoula, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
The Vitens Water Expertise Center continuously strives to provide the highest quality drinking water. This commitment to quality and safety drives them to invest in the most advanced measurement methods and technologies. And in a world where the need for clean and safe drinking water is becoming increasingly urgent, technology plays a key role.
Online sensors represent the forefront of these technological advances. They not only offer the opportunity to continuously monitor water quality, but also to respond quickly and effectively to, for example, contaminants. In this lecture, Adrie Atsma talks about his experiences with online sensoring, and in particular about the self-developed Mobile Drinking Water Laboratory (ModriLab).
What advantages does MoDriLab have compared to traditional measuring methods? And how has MoDriLab contributed to new insights obtained from online measurements in drinking water distribution? Adrie Atsma shares these insights using practical examples. In it he also talks about the (hard) lessons they have learned about the design of a mobile laboratory and what obstacles have been overcome.
Let's discover together how technology helps us create a cleaner and healthier future, not only for drinking water but also for other purposes such as surface water monitoring and food safety.
Speaker: Adrie Atsma, Vitens Water Expertise Center
When you turn on the tap in the Netherlands, you can rest assured that the drinking water is tasty and safe. But how do we know if the water is of good quality? Adrie Atsma is research leader in microbiology and diagnostics at the Vitens Water Expertise Center. He explains how Vitens measures the quality of our drinking water with a mobile drinking water laboratory (MoDriLab).
Nederlands