ISO TS 17919-2013 PDF

Full title and description

ISO/TS 17919:2013 — Microbiology of the food chain — Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of food‑borne pathogens — Detection of botulinum type A, B, E and F neurotoxin‑producing clostridia. The document specifies a horizontal PCR‑based method for detecting clostridia that carry genes encoding botulinum neurotoxin types A, B, E and F.

Abstract

ISO/TS 17919:2013 specifies a PCR method for molecular detection of clostridia carrying genes for botulinum neurotoxins A, B, E and F. The method detects the presence of genetic sequences (genes), not the toxins themselves; therefore a positive PCR result does not necessarily indicate the presence of active neurotoxin in the sample. The document is applicable to samples from products intended for human consumption, animal feed and environmental sources; PCR assays for the specific toxin types are described in annexes.

General information

• Status: Published.
• Publication date: 2013-11 (November 2013).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 07.100.30 (Food microbiology).
• Edition / version: Edition 1, 2013.
• Number of pages: 47.

Scope

Provides a horizontal (i.e., broadly applicable) PCR procedure for detecting clostridia that carry genes for botulinum neurotoxin types A, B, E and F. It is intended for use on foods, animal feed and environmental samples related to the food chain; the method targets nucleic acid sequences and does not measure toxin activity. Annexes contain the specific PCR assays for individual toxin types.

Key topics and requirements

• Horizontal PCR method for molecular detection of Clostridium species carrying BoNT (A, B, E, F) genes.
• Emphasis on genetic detection (presence of toxin genes), with explicit note that gene detection ≠ toxin detection.
• Applicability to food matrices, animal feed and environmental samples relevant to the food chain.
• Detailed assay descriptions for detection of specific toxin types provided in annexes.
• Alignment with ISO/TC 34/SC 9 work on PCR methods for microbiology of the food chain (general requirements standards and related PCR performance documents).

Typical use and users

Used by food‑testing and public‑health laboratories, reference and research laboratories, veterinary diagnostic labs, regulatory authorities and food safety teams within industry for screening samples for clostridial neurotoxin genes. Laboratories implement this technical specification alongside general PCR quality and performance requirements to generate comparable, reproducible screening results.

Related standards

Relevant documents in the ISO food‑microbiology PCR family include ISO 22174 (general requirements and definitions for PCR in the food chain; latest edition 2024) and earlier/superseded PCR guidance such as ISO 22119 (withdrawn/replaced by later work). Documents on PCR performance characteristics (e.g., ISO 22118 series and subsequent revisions) and other horizontal detection methods for specific organisms (for example ISO horizontal methods for other pathogens) are commonly used together with ISO/TS 17919.

Keywords

botulinum, Clostridia, botulinum neurotoxin, BoNT A B E F, PCR, molecular detection, food microbiology, food safety, animal feed, environmental samples, ISO/TC 34/SC 9.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: A technical specification from ISO that defines a PCR‑based horizontal method to detect clostridia carrying genes for botulinum neurotoxin types A, B, E and F in food, feed and related environmental samples.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers molecular (PCR) detection of BoNT‑encoding genes; the standard describes assay formats in annexes and clarifies that detection is genetic (genes), not direct toxin measurement.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Food and veterinary diagnostic laboratories, public‑health and reference laboratories, regulators and industry food‑safety teams that perform or validate PCR screening for botulinum neurotoxin‑producing clostridia.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: ISO/TS 17919:2013 is published and was confirmed as current in ISO’s periodic review (confirmed in 2024); it remains the active technical specification for this method as of the most recent ISO confirmation. Users should, however, check for any newer ISO publications or national adoptions that affect local application.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it belongs to ISO work on microbiology of the food chain and PCR methods developed under ISO/TC 34/SC 9; it is used alongside general PCR requirements/performance standards (for example ISO 22174 and ISO 22118 series) and other organism‑specific horizontal methods.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: botulinum, Clostridium, BoNT, PCR, molecular detection, food safety, neurotoxin genes, food microbiology, ISO/TS 17919.