Applicability of a General Analytical Approach for Detection of Genetically Modified Organisms: Collaborative Trial

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Biotechnology
• Food Safety

Background:

• Increased global commercialization of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) necessitates efficient laboratory screening methods.
• A universal analytical approach was developed for cost-efficient, high-throughput GMO screening with high accuracy.
• This method aims to accurately qualify both authorized and unauthorized GMOs in food and feed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess a universal analytical approach for detecting the majority of commercially available GMOs worldwide.
• To evaluate the specificity, sensitivity, and robustness of the developed GMO detection method.

Main Methods:

• Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) was employed to detect seven elements and three events across 59 commercialized GMOs.
• Certified reference materials and food/feed samples from the Chinese market were analyzed.
• The method's performance was validated through an interlaboratory study, assessing specificity, conformity, and robustness.

Main Results:

• The selected elements and events demonstrated high specificity and sensitivity for detecting GMO presence.
• Concordance rates ranged from 97.5% to 99.56%, with variance between 0.65% and 12.88%.
• These results meet the minimum requirements for analytical methods in GMO testing.

Conclusions:

• The validated universal analytical approach effectively detects and quantifies GMO presence in food and feed.
• This method is capable of tracking GMO traces within trade and domestic agricultural markets, particularly in China.
• The approach provides a reliable tool for managing GMO content in agricultural products.