PT Food microbiology

Eurofins Norsk Matanalyse offers your laboratory the opportunity to participate in its food microbiology laboratory proficiency testing program. The program uses food matrices which consist of real food products to make the proficiency testing program as close to real-world testing as possible.  The program is designed for all laboratories analyzing food products as there are samples with and without pathogens.

 

Frequency:

The dates for 2012 are:

PT trial Food microbiology

Trial 69 Week 4-5 Jan. 23 – Feb. 3

Trial 70 Week 16-17 April 16 - 27

Trial 71 Week 35-36 Aug. 27 – Sept. 7

Trial 72 Week 45-46 Nov. 5 – 16

Parameters:

The following parameters for food microbiology are offered for every trial.

"Non-pathogen" samples:

Aerobic plate count, Enterobacteriaceae, coliforms, thermotolerant coliforms, E.coli, yeast, mould, Bacillus cereus, lactic acid bacteria, Contaminating bacteria (IDF 153)

"Pathogen" samples:

Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens, Enterococcus, Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes - qualitative and quantitative, E. coli O157.

Once or twice a year Vibrio and Campylobacter are included, but only one-two trial(s) each because there are not many laboratories doing these tests.

Methods:

Participants decide themselves which analytical parameters they wish to test and the methods that are relevant for them. These are usually ISO methods or methods related to standard methods. 

Matrices:

Participants receive 3 food samples without pathogens and, if desired, 3 with pathogens each trial.  The matrices for our food program vary from trial to trial.  Food samples without pathogens are milk/dairy based products in dried form (non-fat dried milk, baby food, yoghurt, "smoothie" mix).

Food samples with pathogens are rather diverse; soup mixes, cereals, meat and potatoes, gravy, apple sauce, etc... Samples are just like "normal" everyday routine samples. Weigh out 10 g or 25 g, dilute, analyse, report.

Reporting results:

Participants receive a user identification and password to log in and send their results in via internet.  It is also possible to send in results by fax.

See the result here  

Cost:

The cost for the food microbiology program is 3950 Norwegian crowns (about 500 Euros) plus TNT Express shipping because the fees are different for different countries and fuel surcharges to cover fluctuations in the cost of oil/jet fuel.

Please note, too, it is the same price regardless of how many parameters are analysed.

Reports to participants:

Participants receive a preliminary report approximately one week after the reporting cut-off date has passed. This preliminary report containing your laboratory's results, averages of all participants for all parameters, standard deviations and your laboratory's z-scores to indicate whether the laboratory's performance is generally satisfactory.  If the laboratory is outside Norway, these reports are sent as pdf files to the contact person at the laboratory.

A final report in similar tabular form with additional "highlights" and information about the trial is issued about a week or two later.

A full report containing more detailed information (coded results from all participants, histograms, etc) about the trial is sent electronically to the laboratory about 2-3 weeks thereafter.

All participation is strictly confidential!

 

Register for participation with: