Evaluation of Commercial Milk-Specific Lateral Flow Devices

Area of Science:

• Food safety
• Analytical chemistry
• Allergen detection

Background:

• Validation of allergen cleaning processes is increasingly critical.
• Lateral flow devices (LFDs) are expanding for allergen detection, but best practices are still evolving.
• Variability in LFD performance necessitates careful evaluation for reliable allergen monitoring.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the performance of commercially available milk-specific LFDs against a general protein identification method.
• To evaluate the detection capabilities of LFDs for various milk proteins and derived ingredients.
• To determine the impact of sample preparation and surface drying methods on allergen detectability.

Main Methods:

• Testing of five milk proteins and seven milk-derived ingredients across multiple concentrations using eight milk-specific LFDs and one general protein kit.
• Analysis of nonfat dry milk (NFDM) at varying concentrations (100-10,000 ppm) to identify false-negative (overload) concentrations.
• Assessment of milk protein residue detectability on stainless steel panels using different drying methods and swab sampling techniques.

Main Results:

• Several LFD kits failed to detect whey proteins or whey-derived ingredients.
• Overload concentrations varied widely among kits, ranging from 100 to 10,000 ppm milk protein.
• Milk protein residues dried with high heat were less detectable than those dried with low heat; residue or swab moistening did not affect sensitivity.

Conclusions:

• Significant variability exists in the performance of milk-specific LFDs, impacting their reliability for allergen cleaning validation.
• Understanding the dynamic range and limitations, such as hook effects and residue drying conditions, is essential for accurate LFD use.
• Further research into standardized LFD protocols and performance evaluation is needed for robust allergen control in food processing environments.