The grain industry needs fast, reliable tests to detect the presence of biotechnology-derived grains and oilseeds and mycotoxins in grain. To ensure that reliable, rapid tests are commercially available, GIPSA provides a program to verify the performance of commercial test kits. GIPSA Performance Verified Rapid Test Kits are eligible for use in the official inspection and weighing system.

Quantitative test kits for aflatoxin, deoxynivalenol, fumonisin, and zearalenone must meet GIPSA's Design Criteria and Test Performance Specifications in order to be used in the official inspection and weighing system. GIPSA provides performance evaluations on quantitative test kits for manufacturers seeking approval of their product. If a test kit meets the criteria for quantitative determination of mycotoxin in grains, oilseeds, and processed-grain products, the test kit receives a Certificate of Conformance and can be used in the Official Inspection System.

GIPSA's Test Kit Verification Program meets the grain industry's demand for accurate and reliable qualitative mycotoxin and biotechnology event testing. Under the program, test kit manufacturers can submit their product for GIPSA verification of performance claims for qualitative rapid tests to detect the presence of mycotoxins and/or biotechnology events in grain and oilseeds, and receive a Certificate of Performance for test kits meeting these claims.

For further information on these programs, see GIPSA Program Directive 9181.2, Performance Verification of Qualitative Mycotoxin and Biotech Rapid Test Kits.