Sensor and method for detecting androstenone or skatole in boar taint

摘要

The present application is concerned with a sensor system for and a method of detecting, and preferably quantifying, androstenone (CAS Reg.No. 18339-16-7) and/or skatole (CAS Reg. No. 83-34-1), the chemicals associated with boar taint. In a preferred embodiment, the sensor system comprises an array comprising (i) an enzyme electrode based on 3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3-HSD) which metabolises androstenone in the presence of cofactor NAD(P)H, together with a mediator, eg. Meldola's Blue (CAS Reg.No. 7057-57-0); and (ii) a sensor for the voltammetric detection of skatole, especially via direct oxidation at an electrode. The sensor system can be used to detect and quantify boar taint in pig carcasses or live pigs and so can be used to prevent the entrance of tainted carcasses into the food chain and to allow the grading of carcasses as "premium quality".