5.3.6. The detection process

The detection process comprises a procedure consisting of the following individual steps [9]:

1. Sampling. The sampling strategy involves complex statistics to produce reliable estimate of the quantity of GMO or their derivatives.
2. Homogenizing. This step includes homogenization of the sample.
3. Isolation/purification. This step concerns isolation and purification of a DNA, RNA or protein. The most critical factors at this step ate the quantity (concentration), purity and quality of the macromolecule to be tested. Here again statistics are involved.
4. Present/absent analysis. At this step analyses for determination of presence or not of GNO or its derivative are performed. As mentioned above a range of alternative methods is available, each offering different ability to discriminate between derivatives of different GMOs and different reliability concerning false (+) and (-) results. Another considerations that should be taken into account when choosing a detection method are: the probability the molecule to be detected to be entirely degraded, i.e. no longer detectable; the probability during the food processing the molecule, which the detection method is designed to detect, have been removed; the probability the analysis to be performed on a mixture of GMOs and thus the identification process appeared to be more complicated and time consuming.
   1. For identification of the detected molecule usually any (+) result have to be verified in order to omit false (+) reactions and confirm the identity of the found molecule.
   2. The quantitative estimation of the modified material is a sample is performed at this step. Here again statistics are important since quantification always requires standards.
5. Interpretation of the analysis results.