Alert® for Methanol: A rapid diagnostic assay to detect methanol contamination in distilled spirits

Ronald Sarver, Sharon Graham, Richard Tester, Stephen Holmes, Brian McGee, Alex Kariagin

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Counterfeiting labelled brands of distilled spirits can be an economic and human health issue as some counterfeit products have been found to contain physiologically harmful levels of methanol. Previously, suspected counterfeit products were sent to a laboratory for GC/MS analysis, requiring hours to days to complete testing. A new rapid diagnostic assay, Neogen's Alert® for Methanol is an on-site screening tool to detect 1% or greater methanol in distilled spirits within 5 minutes. Alert® for Methanol is a colorimetric enzyme assay that indicates a sample contains >1% methanol if the color of the reagent solution turns dark within 5 minutes after sample addition.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationDistilled Spirits IV: Science and Sustainability
Subtitle of host publicationProceedings of the Worldwide Distilled Spirits Conference
EditorsR. Fotheringham, I. Goodall, D. Murray, G. Walker
PublisherNottingham University Press
ISBN (Print)9781908062895
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2012

Keywords

  • methanol
  • diagnostic assay
  • counterfeit
  • enzyme assay

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Alert® for Methanol: A rapid diagnostic assay to detect methanol contamination in distilled spirits'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this