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Infographic - How the CFIA tests for GM wheat

Infographic - How the CFIA tests for GM wheat. Description follows.

Description of infographic - How the CFIA tests for GM wheat

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has developed a test to detect the specific herbicide-tolerant genetically modified (GM) wheat that was found on an access road in Alberta.

The following steps describe how the CFIA tests for GM wheat:

  • collect samples of wheat seed and grain
  • lab receives samples for testing
  • wash, triage and prep samples (as required)
  • split each sample received into 12 sub-samples
  • between each sample and each sub-sample, everything (including equipment) is cleaned
  • grind each sub-sample separately
  • extract DNA from each sub-sample
  • test for GM trait in wheat (Test for this GM wheat specifically)

GM wheat detected: the sample is confirmed to be positive for herbicide-tolerant GM wheat. Testing stops.

No GM wheat detected: the sample is confirmed to be negative for herbicide-tolerant GM wheat. Testing stops.

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