Abstract
The specific detection of meat samples in a complex matrix is a laborious and time-consuming process. There is a current need to develop rapid sensitive technologies to detect chicken meat adulteration. In this contribution, we demonstrate a fast 17-min workflow for chicken meat attribution. Furthermore, the on-electrode (oE)-PCR technique has a unique tolerance to PCR inhibitors that traditionally requires 1–4 h of extraction and purification of DNA. In this contribution, environmental (e)-DNA from unpurified chicken juices from raw liver and meat along with boiled meat samples were directly amplified on an electrode surface without need for DNA extraction. This was conducted through an immobilized chicken primer for the nuclear 5-aminolevulinate synthase gene on a pseudo-graphite material followed by 5 PCR cycles. The double stranded amplicon was detected by intercalation with cobalt(III) tris-1,10 phenanthroline followed by square-wave voltammetric (SWV) signal of complex. This rapid detection protocol obviates the need for post-PCR separation steps. The limit of detection (LOD) for chicken target dsDNA is 15 aM when compared with extracted standards. This LOD was unaffected by the overwhelming presence of 0.60 nM turkey DNA. The oE-PCR provides a scalable, portable alternative to present molecular diagnostics, offering a solution for rapid species identification in unprocessed samples.