“…Thus a detection method based on PCR combines a high degree of specificity with a high degree of sensitivity. PCR technology has been successfully developed as a tool for specific and sensitive detection of micro-organisms in clinical samples (Hartskeer et al, 1989), environmental samples (Bej et al, 1991;Atlas et al, 1992), food or dairy samples (Harris & Griffiths, 1992;Niederhauser et al, 1992;Starbuck et al, 1992) and plant samples (Blakemore et at., 1992;Dong et al, 1992), In particular, food, milk and plant samples often contain components that significantly inhibit the polymerase chain reaction (Demeke & Adams, 1992;Rossen et al, 1992;Powell 6/a/., 1994).…”