This document specifies a real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) method for the qualitative detection of chicken-specific DNA derived from food and feed. It requires the extraction of an adequate amount of PCR amplifiable DNA from the relevant matrix and can be applied to the detection of chicken material derived from chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) and jungle fowl (Gallus gallus).

The target sequence is a partial fragment of the Gallus gallus transforming growth factor beta 3, intron 4 (TGF-β3) gene (i.e. GenBank accession number AY685072.1)^[1], which is present as a single copy per haploid genome. The provided PCR assay for this target has an absolute limit of detection of five copies per reaction, with ≥ 95 % replicability at this concentration (LOD_{95 %}).