WHATfinder® Real-Time PCR Kits for Foodborne Virus Detection
Detect Norovirus and Hepatitis A with Confidence
ISO 15216-Compliant Real-Time PCR Solutions for Food, Water, and Environmental Testing
Protect consumers, safeguard your brand, and strengthen food safety programs with a complete portfolio of molecular testing solutions for the detection and quantification of Norovirus (NoV) and Hepatitis A Virus (HAV).
Designed for laboratories, food producers, regulatory agencies, and testing service providers seeking reliable viral detection according to ISO 15216 standards.
Why Foodborne Virus Testing Matters
Foodborne viruses remain one of the most challenging hazards facing the food industry.
Unlike bacterial contamination, viral pathogens cannot be reliably monitored through traditional indicator organisms alone. Norovirus and Hepatitis A can persist in foods, water systems, and production environments, creating significant risks for public health and food manufacturers.
Common contamination routes include:
Fresh berries and vegetables
Shellfish and bivalve molluscs
Food handling environments
Irrigation and processing water
Environmental surfaces
Organizations worldwide increasingly recognize foodborne viruses as a critical food safety concern requiring direct molecular detection methods.
Traditional Monitoring Has Limitations
Many food safety programs rely on bacterial indicators such as E. coli to assess contamination risk.
However, viral pathogens often behave differently from bacteria in terms of:
Environmental persistence
Infectious dose
Survival in food matrices
Transmission pathways
Resistance to control measures
As a result, indirect monitoring approaches may not provide sufficient protection against viral contamination events.
Direct Detection Through Real-Time PCR
Real-Time PCR provides sensitive and specific detection of viral targets directly from food, water, shellfish, and environmental samples.
Benefits include:
✓ High analytical sensitivity
✓ Direct detection of viral RNA
✓ ISO 15216-compatible workflows
✓ Reliable qualitative and quantitative analysis
✓ Standardized laboratory procedures
The WHATfinder® Solution
A Complete ISO 15216 Testing Portfolio
WHATfinder® delivers a turnkey workflow solution covering all critical stages of foodborne virus testing.
Detection Assays
Target-specific assays for:
Hepatitis A Virus (HAV)
Norovirus Genogroup I
Norovirus Genogroup II
Multiplex Testing
Analyze multiple targets in a single reaction to improve laboratory efficiency and throughput.
Recovery Efficiency Controls
Monitor extraction performance using validated process controls in accordance with ISO 15216 recommendations.
Quantification Standards
Enable viral load quantification through standardized reference materials and calibration curves.
ISO 15216 Workflow
Step 1 — Sample Collection
Collect food, shellfish, water, or environmental samples using validated sampling procedures.
Step 2 — Virus Recovery & Concentration
Recover viral particles and concentrate target material from complex matrices.
Step 3 — RNA Extraction
Purify viral RNA using validated extraction methodologies.
Step 4 — Real-Time PCR Detection
Perform sensitive molecular detection and quantification using WHATfinder® assays and controls.
Step 5 — Data Interpretation
Assess amplification performance, extraction efficiency, and quantification results with confidence.
Product Portfolio
Singleplex Detection Assays
ProductApplicationWHATfinder HAV ID AssayHepatitis A detectionWHATfinder Norovirus Type I ID AssayNorovirus GI detectionWHATfinder Norovirus Type II ID AssayNorovirus GII detection
Multiplex Detection Kits
2-Plex HAV + NoV-I + NoV-II
3-Plex HAV / NoV / IAC
4-Plex HAV / NoV-I / NoV-II / IAC
NoV-I / NoV-II Multiplex Detection
Workflow Controls
Recovery Efficiency Kit
Quantification Standards
Validation Assays
Viral RNA/DNA Extraction Kits