BS PD CEN/TS 16817-2:2015 describes a procedure through which pollen - in particular pollen of
genetically modified organisms (GMO) - can be sampled by means of bee colonies.Bee colonies, especially the foraging bees, actively roam an area and are therefore area related
samplers. Pollen sampling depends on the collection activity of the bees and the availability of pollen
sources within the spatial zone according to the bees' preferences (supply of melliferous plants). A
colony of bees normally forages over an area of up to 5 km radius (median 1,6 km, mean 2,2 km), in rare
cases some bees may also forage in greater distances up to 10 km and more [26].Foragers fix the gathered pollen on the outside of their hind legs (pollen loads, also known as pollen
pellets). Inside the hive they place these pollen loads into comb cells close to the brood nest (bee
bread). Furthermore, foragers gather nectar and honeydew. Nectar contains pollen which fell from the
anthers of the blossom into the nectar drop, or pollen which was dispersed by the wind and sticks in the
nectar of other blossoms or adheres to the sticky honeydew of plants. Nectar and honeydew are
converted to honey and stored by the bees in the beehive.Honey, pollen load and bee-bread may be used as sample matrices for the subsequent analysis of pollen
as it is possible to concentrate sufficient amounts of pollen for microscopic and molecular biological
diagnostics.Microscopic analysis is used to identify the various pollen types and to quantify the exposure to the
target pollen types in question. GMO exposure is analysed by molecular-biological methods: For
analysis of pollen DNA quantitative PCR methods are used and described here in this Technical
Specification. The analysis of GMO specific proteins and toxins in pollen is possible, too, using ELISA, but
to this date the method has not been evaluated enough in pollen matrices for standardization in this
Technical Specification.Cross References:DIN 10760CEN/TS 16817-1ISO 5725-1VDI 4330-1VDI 4330-3VDI 4330-42001/18/EC2002/811/ECAll current amendments available at time of purchase are included with the purchase of this document.