scope:

This International Standard gives the general requirements for the in vitro amplification of nucleic acid sequences (DNA or RNA). It is applicable to the testing of foodstuffs and isolates obtained from foodstuffs for food-borne microorganisms using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The minimum requirements laid down in this International Standard are intended to ensure that comparable and reproducible results are obtained in different laboratories. This International Standard has been established for food-borne microorganisms in or isolated from food and feed matrices and is applicable to: - products intended for human consumption, - products intended for animal feeding, - environmental samples in the area of food and feed production, handling, and - samples from the primary production stage.