Abstract: A method of analysing a sample includes providing a first part of the sample and a second part of the sample. A first analysis is conducted on the first part of the sample and the results of the first analysis are considered. A second analysis is conducted on the second part of the sample, the second analysis being conducted according to a procedure using a value for each of one or more characteristics of the procedure. The consideration of the results of the first analysis is used to determine whether the value for one or more of the characteristics of the procedure is changed to a different value. The second analysis is started before the results of the first analysis are obtained.

Abstract: The invention provides a marking system, markers and methods of use of such marking systems and markers which enable unique marking of articles and subsequent detection of that marking. In particular the invention provides a marking system, the marking system comprising a plurality of different DNA fragment types, each of the plurality of different DNA fragment types comprising a plurality of different length DNA fragments and a method in which a sample of the DNA fragment type is taken, amplified and analysed to determine the identity of the marker for an article.