Megazyme develops lactose measuring test
A TEAM of scientists from Megazyme in Bray has developed an new analytical test ‘K-LOLAC Enzymatic Low Lactose Assay’ that offers a rapid, novel, and sequential measurement of free glucose and lactose in conventional, low-lactose and lactose-free dairy products.
The global accreditation body, Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) International approved LOLAC for Official Methods of Analysis First Action during a meeting of the AOAC INTERNATIONAL Expert Review Panel for the Stakeholder Panel on Infant formula and Adult Nutritionals (SPIFAN) Nutrient Methods in Denver last month.
Lactose Intolerance is a condition that affects almost 70 per cent of the population of the world.
Though only 15 per cent of Northern Europeans suffer, it affects close to 100 per cent of the population in parts of Asia and Africa.
Lactose, the most abundant sugar in dairy products, is normally hydrolysed during digestion by the enzyme lactose-phlorizin hydrolase. Any person deficient in this enzyme can experience gastrointestinal symptoms. LOLAC promotes public health by allowing greater precision in measuring the remaining lactose.
The global accreditation body AOAC recently asked analytical scientists around the world to propose methods for the measurement of lactose in lactose-free products. LOLAC was launched in October 2017 as the result of a major R&D investment over the previous 18 months. Five other methods were also put forward from companies across the world.
The Expert Review Panel of AOAC recommended that of the six methods submitted, only Megazyme’s LOLAC procedure was currently suitable to progress to AOAC Official Method First Action Status.
This now triggers an inter-laboratory validation study which will take place in a number of countries around the world over the next few months and hopefully pave the way for LOLAC to achieve AOAC Official Method Final Action Status. This is Megazyme’s 11th validated method from AOAC with research ongoing with other products.
‘This is a major step forward for the team, as a key element of the method being accepted globally is AOAC validation,’ said Barry McCleary, CEO and Founder of Megazyme.
‘International customers from 25 countries have already driven sales of LOLAC and Megazyme is confident that this latest AOAC recognition will further position LOLAC as the number one global analytical method for the measurement of lactose in lactose-free products.’