Figure 1.

General workflow and screening techniques to characterize strains probiotic potential prior to commercialization. Phases 1 and 2 display the identification of candidate strains and isolation methods; phase 3 offers different in vitro and in vivo techniques for characterizing the probiotic potential. Fundamental in vitro safety assays are also listed. Phase 4 highlights two major factors that also need evaluation prior to the probiotic being used commercially.