Rapid tests for allergens in food and on surfaces
AgraStrip Pro from Romer Labs – precise detection of allergen traces in food, on surfaces and in water. Results in 10 minutes, no additional equipment.
Strip test for allergens on surfaces, in food and in solutions
A compact kit for rapid qualitative and semi-quantitative analysis. Used directly in production – no laboratory, no specialist staff.
Applications for allergen control
Surface control
Checking critical contact points and production equipment after cleaning – key for HACCP.
Finished products
Verification of end products before market release to ensure compliance with the allergen declaration.
Rinse water and solutions
Analysis of rinse water after cleaning to validate procedures and demonstrate disinfection effectiveness.
How the strip test works – step by step
Protocol for a surface sample (swab). For liquid/solid samples the procedure is similar.
Fill the tube with extraction buffer, soak the swab and sample a 5×5 cm area with cross-hatch movements.
Place the swab in the tube and snap off the tip at the marked point. Close and shake for 1 minute.
Open the dosing tip and transfer the extract into a clean incubation vial.
Close the vial cap and shake vigorously by hand until the sample contacts the cap.
Tap the bottom of the vial so no liquid remains in the cap. Leave it in the stand at room temperature for 5 minutes.
Place a test strip in the vial and wait 5 minutes. Done! Read the result.
Reading the result
Negative
Only the control line (C) is visible on the strip.
Positive
Both the control (C) and the test (T) line appear.
Romer Labs — AgraStrip Pro
Economical, fast and easy tests for field conditions – they replace classic laboratory methods.
- Much more economical than laboratory analysis
- No specialised equipment required
- Simultaneous testing for multiple allergens
- Validated against reference methods (PCR)
- Long shelf life at room temperature
- Results in just 10–15 minutes
Detectable allergens
Suitable for in-house quality control in production, with no need for technical training.
Request a price →Kit contents
- 15 AgraStrip® test strips
- 35 mL extraction solution
- 15 extraction tubes with caps
- 15 incubation caps with antibodies
- 15 droppers for the tubes
- 15 sampling swabs
- 1 rack for the incubation vials
Benefits
- On-site analysis – no laboratory equipment
- Cost-effective – low cost per analysis
- Easy to use – fast and intuitive procedure
- Sensitive – low detection levels (ppm)
- Fast – results in ~11 min including extraction
- Durable – long shelf life at room temperature
- Reliable – validated against PCR
Gluten test on surfaces, in food and in rinse water
Gluten is the most frequently checked allergen in in-house control in food production. With AgraStrip® Pro Gluten you can test for gluten on surfaces with a swab sample directly on the workbench, conveyor or mixer — no laboratory and no specially trained staff. The result is read in 11 minutes, including extraction.
Surface swab sample
Wipe a 25 × 25 cm area of work surfaces, conveyor belts, knives and mixers after cleaning. It shows whether residual gluten is below the control limit — a key point in cleaning validation under HACCP.
Rinse water (CIP)
The sample is taken from the final rinse water of closed systems and pipelines. It allows the effectiveness of the CIP cycle to be documented without disassembling the line.
Raw materials and finished products
Gluten test in flours, mixes, sauces, meat and dairy products. Detection limit 4 ppm (cat. no. 10007062) and 5 ppm for the version with the G12 antibody (cat. no. 10001995).
When is the strip test not enough? When a quantitative value in ppm is needed for a dossier for a customer or regulatory authority, the surface gluten strip test is used as a rapid screen, and confirmation is done with an ELISA gluten test.
Full table of tests and detection limits
| Allergen | Detection limit |
Cat. number |
|---|---|---|
| Gluten | 4 ppm | 10007062 |
| Gluten G12 | 5 ppm | 10001995 |
| Egg | 2 ppm | 10007072 |
| Soy | 2 ppm | 10007070 |
| Milk | 1 ppm | 10007066 |
| Mustard | 2 ppm | 10007067 |
| Almond | 2 ppm | 10007055 |
| β-Lactoglobulin | 0,5 ppm | 10007056 |
| Brazil nut | 5 ppm | 10007057 |
| Casein | 1 ppm | 10007058 |
| Cashew / Pistachio | 2 ppm | 10007059 |
| Coconut | 10 ppm | 10007060 |
| Crustaceans | 10 ppm | 10007061 |
| Hazelnut | 5 ppm | 10007063 |
| Lupin | 10 ppm | 10007064 |
| Macadamia | 2 ppm | 10007065 |
| Peanut | 1 ppm | 10007068 |
| Sesame | 5 ppm | 10007069 |
| Walnut | 5 ppm | 10007071 |
Unlock additional benefits with AgraVision™ Pro
Use the AgraStrip® Pro test strips together with the AgraVision™ Pro reader for quantitative results.
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Objective and consistent resultseliminates subjectivity when reading the strips
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Simplified workflowautomatic timing, result in 5 minutes, up to 4 tests at once
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Connectivitydata management with Romer Labs Data Manager
Frequently asked questions about allergen tests
How is a surface gluten test performed?
A swab sample is taken from a cleaned surface of about 25 × 25 cm. The swab is immersed in extraction solution for 1 minute, then the sample is transferred to the incubation vial and the strip is read after 10 minutes. The total time is 11 minutes and no laboratory equipment is needed.
What is the detection limit of the gluten test?
AgraStrip® Pro Gluten detects gluten from 4 ppm (cat. no. 10007062). The version with the G12 monoclonal antibody has a limit of 5 ppm (cat. no. 10001995). For a quantitative value in ppm, an ELISA test is used.
What are rapid allergen tests?
Rapid allergen strip tests are immunochromatographic tests for the qualitative and semi-quantitative detection of food allergen traces in products and the working environment. They are intended for in-house control and help manufacturers meet food safety requirements.
How does the allergen strip test work?
The strip test works on an immunochromatographic principle (lateral flow). A sample is taken with a swab, extracted with buffer, then the strip is immersed in the solution. Within 10–15 minutes the result is read: two lines = positive, one line = negative.
How long does the analysis take?
The full process takes about 10–15 minutes including extraction. The result is directly visible on the strip – no additional instruments.
Which allergens can be detected with AgraStrip Pro?
AgraStrip Pro detects 19+ allergens: gluten, milk, soy, egg, peanut, hazelnut, almond, sesame, mustard, crustaceans, walnut, casein, β-lactoglobulin, lupin, macadamia, cashew, pistachio, coconut and Brazil nut.
Are the tests suitable for HACCP systems?
Yes, AgraStrip Pro tests are specifically designed for HACCP – they support monitoring of critical control points and prove cleaning effectiveness, preventing allergen cross-contamination.
Is specialised equipment required?
No. The tests are fully self-contained – everything needed is included in the kit. No reader, spectrophotometer or laboratory access is required. The result is read visually on the strip.
How is mandatory allergen declaration regulated in the EU?
Declaration is mandatory under Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011. All 14 major allergens must be clearly labelled when present in a product. Control with AgraStrip Pro helps verify allergen plans and investigate cross-contamination incidents.
