biostudies-literatureUnknown79(2)Buddenhagen CE<h4>Background</h4>The setting and following of phytosanitary standards for weed seeds can lessen the impacts of weeds on agriculture. Standards adopted by seed companies, laboratories and regulators ensure the contamination rates do not exceed some thresholds. Globally sample size standards are set based on the amount needed to obtain a contaminant in a random sample of the seed lot, not detectability. New Zealand requires a 95% confidence that the maximum pest limit of 0.01% of quarantine weed seed contamination is not exceeded in an imported seed lot. We examined 24 samples each containing approximately 150 000 seeds of either perennial ryegrass (12 samples) or white clover seeds (12 samples) that were then spiked with seeds (contaminants) from 12 non-crop species (3-8 seeds of each). WPest management science881-890https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10099985biostudies-literatureFactors impacting the detection of weed seed contaminants in seed lots.PMC10099985Buddenhagen CEWynne-Jones BHenderson HVHackell DfalseFactors impacting the detection of weed seed contaminants in seed lots.<h4>Background</h4>The setting and following of phytosanitary standards for weed seeds can lessen the impacts of weeds on agriculture. Standards adopted by seed companies, laboratories and regulators ensure the contamination rates do not exceed some thresholds. Globally sample size standards are set based on the amount needed to obtain a contaminant in a random sample of the seed lot, not detectability. New Zealand requires a 95% confidence that the maximum pest limit of 0.01% of quarantine weed seed contamination is not exceeded in an imported seed lot. We examined 24 samples each containing approximately 150 000 seeds of either perennial ryegrass (12 samples) or white clover seeds (12 samples) that were then spiked with seeds (contaminants) from 12 non-crop species (3-8 seeds of each). W2023-01-01T00:00:00Z2023 Feb2026-03-27T17:26:35.345Z2025-04-20T02:20:10.158ZS-EPMC100999853630873210.1002/ps.7257