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.