Abstract A real time RT-PCR detection of Bovine central nervous system tissue （CNS）as bovine spongiform encephalopathy（BSE）specified risk material （SRM） in beef and beef products based on glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) mRNA was reported in this study. The results showed that the developed method allowed the detection of CNS tissues from bovine and ovine origins, but not from porcine and avian origins, and that the lowest detection limit was below 0.001% bovine brain homogenate, and the GFAP mRNA signal detection was not affected by 100°C heating treatment for 30min and long period of storage at over 30°C room temperature (RT) for 4 days and at 4°C for 15 days. It is concluded that real time RT-PCR based on GFAP mRNA can serve as a sensitive and specific test in routine inspection and quarantine detection for illegal use of bovine CNS tissues in beef and beef products.
