Sampling of Grain and Seed to Estimate the Adventitious Presence of Biotechnology-Derived Seeds in a Lot

Abstract

Sampling and subsequent analysis are essential steps to assess the characteristics of grain and seed lots. In this article, the basic principles of sampling statistics and how to apply them to grain or seed are described for analysts who do not have significant training in statistics. Although these principles are described in the context of sampling grain and seed to test for the presence of low concentrations of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), they can be applied to the sampling of grain or seed for any characteristic.