Applera and BIOTECON Diagnostics now have a non-exclusive, worldwide license agreement relating to PCR technology for Food Testing Applications and Genetically-Modified Organism (GMO) Testing Applications: BIOTECON Diagnostics has acquired important rights with the PCR licence. It enables the company to strengthen its position as an innovative leader in the field of food molecular diagnostics and, together with the food industry, provide even greater food safety.

In the future BIOTECON Diagnostics is entitled to produce and market PCR kits for food safety testing worldwide under its own name. The PCR test systems will be applicable to a broad range of real-time PCR instruments. The PCR technology forms the basis for the development of diagnostic kits that can detect and characterise single or multiple pathogens in food products and related raw material samples.

The benefits of Real-Time PCR are speed and specificity. Combined with BIOTECON's probe based detections systems, for which BIOTECON also has proprietary rights, highly innovative user friendly test systems which are ready to use will be provided to the market. The major areas of PCR applications include the determination of pathogenic organisms, spoilage microorganisms and GMO with the BIOTECON foodproof® products.

The integration of Real time PCR Technology into BIOTECON's foodproof® detection systems makes it possible to identify the most relevant food spoiling microorganisms within a few hours.