Towards fast, sensitive, and selective viral detection methods in food/water: a systematic review

Background

Viral detection in food and water is a major challenge for food safety and public health. Foodborne viruses such as noroviruses and hepatitis viruses are responsible for significant outbreaks worldwide. Reliable and rapid detection methods are essential for monitoring contamination and preventing infections.

Scope and approach

This systematic review evaluates the effectiveness of viral detection techniques, including genetic, immunoassay-based, optical, sequencing, and biosensor-based methods. The PRISMA 2020 statement was followed for article selection. The techniques were assessed based on trueness, precision, accuracy, and selectivity to compare their performance in food and water matrices.

Key findings and conclusion

Genetic methods, particularly RT-qPCR, remain the most reliable approach due to their sensitivity and standardized protocols. Biosensors show potential for rapid viral detection but require further validation for complex matrices. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) provides valuable insights but is costly and not widely adopted for routine analysis. Immunoassays offer an alternative but face limitations in food applications. Optical and emerging techniques such as molecularly imprinted polymers and aptamers present promising avenues for improving speed and selectivity. Overall, while RT-qPCR is the current gold standard, advances in biosensors and alternative techniques may enable faster, more selective, and cost-effective viral detection in the future. Further research is needed to optimize these technologies for real-world food safety applications.