GMO Contamination Testing

GMO Contamination Testing

FAIRFIELD, Iowa--GMO testing has increased in recent months, and farmers aresurprised to find that crops they grew in the United States from non-GMO seedstest positive for GMOs when they reach Europe. Genetic ID, a laboratory thatoffered GMO testing in 1996, has recently licensed a method of detecting GMOs,which is based on the TaqMan DNA testing technique, to laboratories around theworld.

Newer testing devices such as those from Strategic Diagnostics Inc.'slaboratory (SDI) are also offering testing. SDI's protein-based test canidentify Monsanto's Roundup Ready soybeans in three to five minutes. By the endof the year, the company will offer tests capable of identifying GMO corn.Although there are 13 varieties of GMO corn, SDI will only offer tests that arecapable of detecting four of the most popular Bt and Liberty Link varieties.