A reactive test strip prototype has been developed to detect allergens in food quickly and accurately, which could potentially reduce hospitalisation rates and prevent allergen attacks. This breakthrough research makes it possible to perform reliable on-site allergen tests within minutes, making it accessible for use before consumption.
Food allergy or hypersensitivity affects an estimated 520 million people worldwide, with a 50 percent increase in prevalence over the past decade. These reactions often occur when people consume foods containing trace allergens. As this represents a significant health hazard, there is a pressing need for rapid, accurate, and accessible methods to improve food safety.
The Universitat Politècnica de València research group has developed a novel test strip prototype to improve food safety with its high efficiency and reliability. The prototype has been tested for detecting almond and peanut allergens, with results being available in as little as five minutes. To further simplify the process for non-specialised end-users, the researchers have integrated the results output into a smartphone-based reader.
The paper’s first author, Amadeo Sena-Torralba, estimates in the future the test strip could cost as little as €1 per strip. “The developed test has great commercial potential, for example, in the food sector for rapid identification of allergens in situ and in the pharmaceutical sector to quantify the potency of allergenic extracts used in allergy testing," says Sena-Torralba.
The study, published in Biosensors, builds on traditional extraction methods that are currently limited to laboratory settings. The paper’s corresponding author, Sergi Morais, explains how these current methods consist of multiple steps with sophisticated equipment required to detect and quantify results.
“The aim is to decentralise the analysis. We want anyone to be able to analyse a food just before consuming it," says Morais.
Given the characteristics of the test strip, the researchers are optimistic about the potential of this prototype to expand beyond the current capabilities of detecting almond and peanut allergens.
One of the paper authors, Patricia Casino, explains how the group can expand the applicability of the developed biosensing approach to be adapted for other allergens. "Our challenge is to develop a test for the simultaneous quantification of the 14 allergens that must be declared according to Royal Decree 126/2015,” says Casino.
The creation of the reactive test strip represents a major breakthrough for allergen testing. This innovative technology provides a reliable and efficient way to detect even the smallest traces of allergens in food. With its accessibility and speedy results, the test strip makes it possible for people with food allergies or hypersensitivity to easily and quickly identify allergens in food.

If you're interested in learning more about this research, you can access the paper published in Biosensors here: [ Ссылка ]

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