Cashmere Adulteration and the Test Methods That Survive a Dispute
Defending a cashmere claim demands LC-MS/MS proteomic proof tied to core samples that survive ISO 17025 cross-examination across two split lots.
Real Time Pcr
Genetic Test
DNA amplification methods monitor the synthesis of target genetic sequences as the reaction occurs. This analysis, known as real time pcr, allows for the quantitative detection of specific animal species in blended fiber textiles. It relies on fluorescent dyes to measure the abundance of DNA fragments after each replication cycle.
Assay Chemistry
Polymerase enzymes and primer sets are used to target specific regions of the mitochondrial genome. Fluorescent probes generate light signals that increase in intensity as the target DNA sequence is duplicated. This signal is detected by a sensor that plots the growth of the fluorescent intensity over time.
Fiber Discrimination
Laboratories use this method to identify cashmere or mohair fibers in high-value wool products. The technique is sensitive enough to detect low percentages of non-declared animal fibers in a blend. This results in a highly accurate assessment of the genetic makeup of the textile sample.
Processing Influence
Chemical treatments used during textile finishing can degrade the DNA and reduce the efficiency of the test. Bleaching and acid scouring break down long DNA strands into shorter pieces that are difficult to amplify. It is therefore necessary to extract the remaining fragments carefully to ensure that the test produces reliable results.
The extraction method must be optimized for processed textiles to maximize the recovery of high-quality DNA from the sample.