The • German support group • had the idea of the development of a test strip with which people can examine the food for galactose in a restaurant and at home. A company developed such a test strip but the possibilities in using are limited. The food has to be prepared before the test. From solid foods liquid food extracts have to be obtained. Only then you can test the food. But you can test the bread of your bakery around the corner or near your apartment when you are on holiday and a lot of food you use to eat.

Principle of the "Galactose Home Test"
The determination of galactose by the "Galactose home test" of Sension is based on the application of enzymatic test strips. These test strips are dipped into liquid food extracts. The presence of galactose becomes visible for the naked eye by the development of a blue-green colour on the reactive zone of the test strip. The intensity of the emerging colour corresponds to the galactose content in the food sample. The test strip is evaluated by visually comparing the test strip colour to the standard colour chart representing fields for 0, 25, 75, 150, 250 and 1000 mg galactose per 100 g of food.

The "Galactose home test" is suitable for the detection of galactose in both natural and processed foods. Prior to the test strip application the foods have to be prepared according to the test instructions. Liquid foods are mixed with a buffer solution after weighing and diluted up to a definite volume. From solid foods liquid extracts have to be obtained - a procedure which is comparable to the preparation of coffee.