Abstract
Food safety is a significant issue of global concern. Consumer safety and government regulations drive the need for the accurate analysis of food contaminants, residues and other chemical constituents of concern. Traditional methods for the detection of food contaminants often present challenges, including lengthy processing times and food matrix interference; they often require expensive equipment, skilled personnel or have limitations in sensitivity or specificity. Developing novel analytical methods that are sensitive, specific, accurate and rapid is therefore crucial for ensuring food safety and the protection of consumers. The immuno-polymerase chain reaction (IPCR) method offers a promising solution in the analysis of food contaminants by combining the specificity of conventional immunological methods with the exponential sensitivity of PCR amplification. This review evaluates the current state of IPCR methods, describes a variety of existing IPCR formats and explores their application in the analysis of food contaminants, including pathogenic bacteria and their toxins, viruses, mycotoxins, allergens, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, phthalic acid esters, pesticides, antibiotics and other food contaminants. Depending on the type of analyte, either sandwich or competitive format IPCR methods are predominantly used. This review also examines limitations of current IPCR methods and explores potential advancements for future implementation in the field of food safety.