Unknown substances
Of most substances the composition of modules is known and with the right analysis we can detect them. But what about substances that are not known?
Wageningen Food Safety Research has the equipment and knowledge to identify these unknown substances. We use bioassays with which we can determine the presence of compounds. Subsequently, fractionation techniques are used to isolate and identify the particular compound.
Gene expression
In addition to dedicated assays like the DR CALUX for dioxin-like compounds or REA and RAA yeast assays for estrogens and androgens, also broader profiling techniques are applied based on gene expression in cells exposed to compounds or complex samples. Comparison with databases gives an indication of the type of bioactive compounds present in a sample.