Antigenic detection is reliably utilized in rapid diagnostic tests and provides a significant time advantage during pandemics and epidemics. Therefore, the rapid detection of viral infections is of great importance and will remain crucial in the future. The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, which resulted in severe losses, is the most recent example of this necessity. Among rapid diagnostic tests, lateral flow assays (LFAs) are the most practical and do not require specialized equipment, typically being developed using antibody pairs.

Methylimidazole (MEI), classified as a Group 2B carcinogen by the WHO, is primarily formed as a Maillard reaction byproduct in foods. Its recent detection in tea has raised concerns regarding potential food safety risks.

Increased demand for organic alternatives to soil amendment necessitates improved nitrogen (N) determination, including ammonium (NH4+) a readily available nitrogen source in manure. Current methods of NH4+ quantification include Kjeldahl distillation, ion selective electrode (ISE), and colorimetry. The Kjeldahl method has remained the most accurate and reproducible for analysis of liquid manure agricultural samples, as the latter methods are limited by cation and turbidity interferences. The Kjeldahl method is tedious, waste-generating, presents safety concerns, and only detects exchangeable NH4+ nitrogen; therefore, safer, more efficient, and informative alternatives are needed.

Current analytical methods for bovine immunoglobulin G (IgG) have certain limitations in terms of selectivity, reproducibility, and applicability to complex matrices. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) using peptide-based quantitation and a suitable calibrant can potentially overcome some of these limitations.

The leaves of Mitragyna speciosa, commonly called kratom, have been consumed for centuries for their energizing and analgesic properties. Kratom has gained popularity in North America with an estimated 16 million American consumers. Recently, a new product has emerged, labelled "kratom extract" but purportedly comprised of high concentrations of 7-hydroxymitragynine, an oxidation product of mitragynine, the primary alkaloid found in kratom.

Batches of Pigment Red 4 (PR4) submitted to the U.S. FDA for certification as D&C Red No. 36 (R36) must comply with specifications listed in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). Currently, a tedious TLC method is used to enforce limiting specifications for four subsidiary colors: Pigment Orange 5 (PO5, CAS 3468-63-1) and Yellow-1-Naphthol (Y1N, CAS 36265-89-1), each ≤ 0.5%, and Pigment Red 1 (PR1, CAS 6410-10-2) and Pigment Red 6 (PR6, CAS 6410-13-5), each ≤ 0.3%.

A wide range of foods containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are commercially available. To verify the accuracy of GMO labeling, real-time PCR is used to quantify GMO content in raw materials. However, DNA fragmentation during food processing can introduce analytical bias, making it difficult to accurately assess GMO content in processed foods.

As the demand for natural colorants is expected to increase in the future, it is important to analyze pesticide residues to investigate the relationship between exposure and health risks. A modified QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe) analytical method, which uses small-scale SPE for the cleanup process, is increasingly used in Japan. Since this method has hardly been studied for the analysis of pesticides in natural food colorants, it is necessary to evaluate its performance.

The determination of cobalt in water samples (test samples) is crucial, as it is an essential metal; yet, both deficiency and excessive intake may contribute to detrimental effects in humans and animals.

Microlab Listeria monocytogenes is an all-in-one detection method that integrates, in a single disposable device, all elements to perform the analysis; a ready-to-use enrichment broth, a lateral flow immunochromatographic test, and a chemical agent for bacterial inactivation. It can be easily used on-site in food processing facilities.

Quantitative NMR spectroscopy (qNMR) can be used to determine chemical purity. This applies to the resonating nuclei of all the present chemical species, enabling quantitation of the analyte against chemically non-identical calibrator molecules.

Carbamates have been used in intentional poisoning cases to cause death in both humans and animals. Granulated material containing carbamate pesticides is often applied to the victim's food, water, or drink. Toxicological analysis is essential to confirm such cases.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are natural toxins produced by > 6,000 flowering plant species. Some PAs are hepatotoxic and genotoxic carcinogens. Reported cases of direct poisoning in humans have already been documented, but the highest risk of human exposure occurs through the consumption of crops contaminated with PA-producing weeds. The European Commission Regulation EU 2023/915 set maximum levels (MLs) for the sum of 35 PAs in tea, herbal teas, herbs, and spice seeds at levels ranging from 75 to 1000 µg/kg (dry matter basis).

Ivermectin (IVE) is an antiparasitic sold in the form of tablets, pastes, and injectable solutions. Neither the literature nor the official compendiums present an environmentally friendly method for analyzing the final IVE product by thin layer chromatography (TLC) assisted by digital images. This combination strengthens the advantages of cost, handling, time, execution and process optimization. Items, which the green and clean analytical chemistry values, and the National Environmental Methods Index (NEMI), Eco-Scale Assessment (ESA), Analytical GREEnness Metric (AGREE) and Green Analytical Procedure Index (GAPI) tools measure.

5-Methytetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF), a reduced form of folate (vitamin B9) marketed as a potentially more bioavailable alternative to folic acid, is a key ingredient in dietary supplement (DS), particularly prenatal multivitamin/minerals. Its synthesis may produce racemic mixtures of bioactive L-5-MTHF and inactive D-5-MTHF, raising concerns about labeling accuracy, integrity, and health impacts. DS manufacturers consider D-5-MTHF an impurity and do not use racemic mixtures of 5-MTHF in their products.

Food contamination with mycotoxins has become a concern in recent years. Cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) is a mycotoxin found in foods, such as peanuts, corn, and cheese, which poses health hazards to humans.

Micro and nano plastics from textiles, rubber, cleaning products, etc. present in living and working environments can release toxic compounds, added to plastics to improve their properties.

Pogostemon cablin (P. cablin) is a valuable medicinal plant used in traditional medicine and the fragrance industry, but quality control is challenging due to inconsistent stem-to-leaf ratios and frequent essential oil adulteration.

A multi-analyte method was developed for determination and confirmation of 26 natural and synthetic psychedelic and psychoactive compounds from botanical sources using a simple extraction procedure and UPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis.

Tinosporae Radix is a valuable plant with applications in medicinal and edible fields. Alkaloids are one of the main active components of Tinosporae Radix, showing prominent antioxidant activity and great potential in healthcare fields.