ideaXchange











Have a question, comment, or idea for EnviroLogix? Here is the place for it.

If you have a comment or idea, or want to post a comment or reply to something already posted, just email the moderator - your question or comment will be reviewed and posted. Periodically entries will be updated with replies and comments from us and others.





  • CUSTOMIZING QUICKSCAN

    I remember hearing that I can set cut-offs for GMO and mycotoxin testing in the QuickScan. Can you please tell me how I can do that? Thanks. Leonardo, from Argentina
    • You have hit on one of the most popular new features of QuickScan Select. The steps are very straight-forward and have the potential to make users' acceptance or rejection decisions easier, by enabling you to set your own maximum thresholds for GMO or mycotoxin contamination in deliveries.

    From the main menu, click the Setup button, then choose the Cutoffs Tab.

    After selecting a Test Kit, click Add and you will be shown to a window where you can enter the cutoff number, choose a default action, and customize your Error Message (or leave it as "Exceeds Cutoff").
    After entering your data, hit Save.
    (If you enter data and don't hit Save, you will get a warning window asking if you want to continue.)

    After you click "Save," you can use the test kit pulldown menu to add other cutoffs. Once finished and all custom cutoffs are saved, choose "Ok" and your new cutoff(s) will be activated. If the result for your chosen Test Kit equals or exceeds your cutoff, you will see your chosen action and your Error Message automatically displayed in the Results Table. The Error Message and Action are also saved in the log files, provided a Sample ID has been entered for that test.

    Custom cutoffs can be edited and/or deleted at any time in the same manner (Setup button/Cutoffs tab). Type the change directly in a Cutoff or Error Message box, highlight a row to delete an entire custom cutoff, etc. Just remember to hit Save before clicking "Ok" to activate the Cutoff and return to the main menu.

    Don’t hesitate to contact our Technical Support team if you have questions,
    or for more information. (Call 1-866-408-4597 or email Tech Service)
    Jamie Welch
    Senior Tech Support Scientist

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  • NEW SOYBEAN VARIETIES


    • Do your soybean strips detect RR2Y? How about A5547 LibertyLink?
    Yes, our soybean strips will detect all these new events.

    The RR2Y soybeans (MON89788) express the same protein, CP4 EPSPS, as the current Roundup Ready soybeans (GTS432), and so our AQ 010 and AS 010 strips will react to samples containing either event.

    Same story with the A5547-127, the new LibertyLink event; it expresses PAT/pat, the same protein as the current LibertyLink event, A2704-12. Although not commercially planted yet, we are confident our AQ 014 and AS 014 soybean strips will react to samples containing either event.

    One note about bulk grain testing. We rigorously and continually QC our strips to ensure that the detection levels are accurate (when we say it detects one GMO bean out of 200, we mean it). Our strips are currently QC'd with RR/GTS432 and LL/A2704-12, since these represent the majority of each event planted.

    When new varieties come under more common use, we generally parallel-test to check the detection levels. Sometimes trait expression in new varieties is lower, as is the case with RR2Y. Sometimes it's higher, as is the case with A5547-127.

    Once new events overtake the "old" events in percentage of plantings, we manufacture and QC the test strips with the new varieties, recalibrating as needed to match the stated claims. In this specific case, since these new varieties are either such a small percentage or not commercially planted, the detection levels are still based on LL/A2704-12 and RR/GTS432.

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  • PIPELINE


    • What are some of the new products coming out from EnviroLogix?
    In response to various inquiries from multiple customers about their needs, and questions about availability of tests for some new GMO varieties, we gathered some answers here in the ideaXchange.

    We have two new mycotoxin tests coming out of R&D and getting ready for introduction [UPDATE: Both products are now available for sale!! click the links for product information] QuickTox Kits for Ochratoxin and Zearelanone. Both are quantitative tests for QuickScan users with upgraded QuickScan Select software.

    As far as GMO tests, Vip3A is in the final stages of our rigorous introduction testing, and set for leaf & seed testing as well as bulk grain. And there is a quantitative QuickStix Strip for Cry2A bulk grain testing that will soon join our current qualitative version.

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  • GRINDING CORN

    Why is "grind quality" so important for QuickScan quantitative testing? Jim, Iowa
    • Second only to how you obtain representative samples, the grind quality has a huge impact on a quantitative test result, regardless of whether you are using the QuickScan System or any other quantitative method.

    All testing methods, including QuickScan, are subject to error for many reasons: poor extraction, lot-to-lot manufacturing variability in a device, and/or incorrect interpretation, to name a few.

    Our GMO and mycotoxin tests are designed to take some of these errors out of the equation. In order to do that, QuickStix and QuickTox Strips are labeled with a barcode that tells QuickScan the “rules” for interpreting the test results.

    Those rules are based on a specific grind quality; in the case of the mycotoxin tests, the requirement of the certifying agency, USDA/GIPSA. If your sample is not ground to the same consistency, those “rules” are out the window and your quantitative results will be skewed.

    Grain that is too coarse:
    - flows faster
    - extracts less protein or toxin    		Grain that is too fine:
    - flows slower
    - extracts more protein or toxin
    For GMOs
    By extracting less protein, less “signal” binds on the test lines    		For Mycotoxins
    By extracting less toxin, more “signal” binds on the test lines     		For GMOs
    By extracting more protein, more “signal” binds on the test lines    		For Mycotoxins
    By extracting more toxin, less “signal” binds on the test lines
    This results in scores that are
    lower than the actual value    		This results in scores that are
    higher than the actual value

    The chart at right illustrates the effect of grind consistency on a 2% GMO sample, based on testing hundreds of samples. The recommended grind leads to a result that is just right!

    Don’t be afraid to contact our Technical Support team if you have questions, or for more information. (Call 1-866-408-4597 or email Tech Service)
    Jamie Welch
    Senior Tech Support Scientist
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  • SMARTSTAX

    What exactly is SmartStax? Does EnviroLogix have any products to test for it? - Joanne, St. Louis
    • SmartStax is a stacked-trait technology platform for corn, developed jointly by Monsanto and Dow AgroSciences. The platform combines six insect-protection genes with two herbicide-tolerant genes. Seed varieties with SmartStax technology were first planted on US acres in 2010, and the platform’s popularity is expected to increase.

    SmartStax testing is typically performed on seed and leaf to confirm the presence of component traits. EnviroLogix offers test strips or ELISA plates to detect each of the traits expressed in SmartStax. See this informational sheet for more detail.

    We are also developing a single QuickStix Strip with four test lines: Cry2Ab, Cry3Bb, Cry1F and Cry34/35 (a SmartStax Quad). These traits are considered “sentinel” indicators of the SmartStax platform. With this single strip, a quality-control user can confirm the presence of the stacked-trait technology.

    Call 1-866-408-4597 or email me if you’re interested in testing for SmartStax!

    Mary Harbison
    Sales
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  • QUICKSCAN

    Here's a question for you: What features would you like to see? How can we make QuickScan an even better product for the food and feed industry?
    • The QuickScan reader system provides quantitative and traceable results for all our GMO and mycotoxin test kits. The system is based on personal-computer technology, enabling substantial innovation in precision, electronic records and user-customizations.

    Customers tell us that the system is meeting their grain-testing needs - even exceeding expectations - but we are always seeking improvements or enhancements.

    Please let us know if there are features or capabilities you’d like to see included in your QuickScan system. Your input is valuable, and we'll post results here. Call 1-866-408-4597 or

    email the QuickScan team.

    Simon Varney
    Product Manager

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