Diagnostic kits

About our kits

Today a wide range of kits for serological or molecular diagnostics are available from commercial suppliers worldwide. Each may differ in performance criteria, intended purpose or scope and validation data available.

But how do you know which one to use?
The commercial partners of EPDIA have created a database that helps you find the diagnostic tool you need, to achieve your testing goals. It is the first consolidated source for phytodiagnostics commercial solutions.In the database you will find comprehensive information on test kits for various pests, suppliers, purpose of the test, performance criteria, manuals and more for different techniques like ELISA, PCR, Quick Tests.

Serological Tests

Serological assays such as ELISA are still the most common test methods if it comes to reliable and robust detection of plant pests. They are based on antibodies specifically targeted against an antigen (e.g. a viral coat protein). They are especially cost effective, if a large number of samples needs to be examined. Manufacturer ‘s offer a wide range of validated and optimized antibodies for application in Immunofluorescence or ELISA and its variations.

Molecular Tests

Molecular methods gain more and more importance in plant pest diagnostics, especially if serological reagents are not available or multiple tests are needed for unambiguous identification of a pest. The PCR technique is based on the analysis of the pest’s genetic material such as DNA/RNA, providing reliable and robust detection of many plant pests. It can be applied for high-throughput screening with very high sensitivity and specificity. An increasing range of validated and optimized kits for end-point PCR or Real Time PCR are commercially available for convenient and cost-effective molecular analysis of plant diseases.

On-site Tests

As stand-alone diagnostic tool the Rapid or Quick Tests provide quick and easy assessment of suspicious plant material in the field or greenhouse without the need of a laboratory or specialized laboratory staff. The results of such tests are available within minutes and provide a yes-or no-answer, making them an ideal tool for pre-screening plant material with symptoms.

Emerging Technologies

Besides serological and molecular methods, which are routinely used by laboratories since decades, new innovative technologies are now entering the field of plant diagnostics and are mostly adopted from medical applications. Such technologies include easy-to-use platforms for quick and sensitive on-site testing such as isothermal DNA amplification applications (e.g. LAMP), or Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) for in-depth analysis and identification of new emerging pests.