This International Standard gives the general requirements for the in vitro amplification of nucleic acid sequences (DNA or RNA). It is applicable to the testing of foodstuffs and isolates obtained from foodstuffs for food-borne pathogens using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The minimum requirements laid down in this International Standard are intended to ensure that comparable and reproducible results are obtained in different laboratories. This International Standard has been established for food-borne pathogens in or isolated from food and feed matrices, but is also applicable to other matrices (e.g. environmental samples) and for the detection of non-pathogenic microorganisms.