CHAPTER 23: DNA Point of Use Applications¹

DNA analysis in mainstream criminal forensic science and in food forensics, has many advantages which are outlined throughout this book. It is no surprise that there is a desire to deploy DNA techniques in the field or at the point of use (PoU). While few food authenticity applications of PoU DNA technologies have been commercialised, there is obvious potential. This chapter provides a snapshot of some of the developments in DNA PoU to date. The point-of-care diagnostics market is a significant driver of DNA PoU technology and we outline three examples of such devices with applications in plant health, food safety and healthcare. Finally, we discuss the reasons for lack of uptake of DNA PoU in food authenticity and make some suggestions for the validation and deployment of such approaches in the future. References to particular instruments or technologies must not be construed as any endorsement by the authors; these are for illustrative purposes only.