proficiency testing programme 2018/2019® food microbiology 3 who we are fapas® is the leading...

Fapas®

Food Microbiology Proficiency Testing Programme

2018/2019

2

Contents Who We Are 3

Fapas® Proficiency Tests 4

Enumeration Tests 6

Aerobic Plate Count 6

Bacillus cereus 7

Campylobacter 8

Clostridium perfringens 8

Coagulase Positive Staphylococci 9

Coliforms 10

Enterobacteriaceae 11

Enterococci 12

Escherichia coli 12

Lactic Acid Bacteria 13

Listeria monocytogenes 13

Lactic Acid Bacteria 14

Detection Tests 15

Campylobacter spp. 15

Cronobacter (Enterobacter) sakazakii 15

Escherichia coli O157:H7 16

Listeria monocytogenes/Listeria spp. 17

Salmonella spp. 18

Vibrio parahaemolyticus 19

Appendix 1: Distribution Details January to March 2018 20

Appendix 2: Distribution Details April 2018 to March 2019 25

Price List 30

Technical Information 31

Protocols 31

Other technical documents 31

ISO Accreditation 31

Fapas® Food Microbiology

3

Who We Are Fapas® is the leading global provider of proficiency testing schemes, quality control

samples and reference materials in the food sector, offering products throughout the

year.

Proficiency testing is an independent check of your laboratory procedures providing you

with a completely confidential assessment of your capability. Not only does participation

in the relevant testing schemes allow you to demonstrate your systems and the technical

ability of your staff, it will also help you gain and maintain ISO/17025 accreditation.

Established in 1990, we are an experienced, accredited provider of proficiency tests for the food and

water, environmental chemistry and microbiology sectors. Taking part in our proficiency tests provides

you with the confidence in your laboratory equipment, methods and staff, and assurance that you are

delivering the quality results required by your customers.

We provide our participants with a confidential service that allows you to participate at a level that suits

you; there is no minimum number of proficiency tests that you must take part in each year. Our system

provides an easy reporting facility via our website and our comprehensive reports, which receive

rigorous statistical analysis, contain method comparisons.

We also offer quality control samples and reference materials from selected food chemistry proficiency

tests which can be purchased easily through our website throughout the year.

Our four Fapas® proficiency testing schemes cover food chemistry, food microbiology, GM and water

and environmental analysis.

https://twitter.com/FAPAS_PT

http://www.linkedin.com/company/fapas-proficiency-testing


4

Fapas® Proficiency Tests

Proficiency Testing in Food Microbiology

Proficiency testing is an essential part of laboratory quality procedures. Taking part

gives you confidence in your laboratory equipment, methods and staff, and assurance

that you are delivering the quality results demanded by your customers.

Fapas® launched its food microbiology proficiency tests in 1997 as a proficiency testing scheme to

assess the performance of laboratories carrying out microbiological examinations in the food area.

Fapas® is an international proficiency test provider; the scheme has more than 500 participants in over

100 countries. Participants can monitor performance on a global scale.

Our proficiency test samples are real food samples with target organisms for detection or enumeration.

Our test materials are designed to simulate real laboratory samples with varying levels of target

organisms and background flora, they provide challenging, high quality and innovative proficiency tests.

Food matrices include beef, chicken, fish, soft cheese, milk powder, salad, rice, etc. In addition we have

environmental swabs for detection and enumeration. Target organisms include pathogens, indicator

micro-organisms and spoilage organisms.


5

There is a flexible programme of 10 distributions a year to meet your laboratories quality systems.

Samples are sent by courier worldwide in a controlled environment with detailed instructions.

Results from each proficiency test receive rigorous statistical analysis, ensuring you have clear feedback

on your performance. Comprehensive reports give information on microbiological methods used by

other participants.

Participation in Fapas® is easy. Arrangements can be made through our network of agents, or via our

website, fapas.com. Fapas® – Food Microbiology follows international guidelines for proficiency testing

and is accredited by UKAS to ISO/IEC 17043.

http://fapas.com/


6

Enumeration Tests

For each proficiency test in enumeration, participants will receive 1 sample equivalent to 10 g after

reconstitution (or 1 swab).

Aerobic Plate Count

dispatch

date

test details

dd/mm/yyyy code matrix analyte approx. quantity

26/02/2018 M230e13 beef Bacillus cereus & Aerobic Plate

Count

equivalent to 10 g

26/03/2018 M231e05 beef Enterobacteriaceae & Aerobic

Plate Count

equivalent to 10 g

26/03/2018 M231e09 milk powder Aerobic Plate Count equivalent to 10 g

30/04/2018 M232e13 milk powder Bacillus cereus & Aerobic Plate

Count

equivalent to 10 g

04/06/2018 M233e09 swab Aerobic Plate Count 1 x cotton swab


26/11/2018 M238e09 chicken Aerobic Plate Count equivalent to 10 g


Count

equivalent to 10 g


Plate Count

equivalent to 10 g


https://fapas.com/shop/search?txtsearch=M230e13











7

Bacillus cereus

dispatch

date

test details


29/01/2018 M229e12 cooked rice Bacillus cereus equivalent to 10 g


Count

equivalent to 10 g

30/04/2018 M232e13 milk powder Bacillus cereus & Aerobic Plate

Count

equivalent to 10 g




Count

equivalent to 10 g








8

Campylobacter

dispatch

date

test details


26/11/2018 M238e17 chicken Camplylobacter equivalent to 10 g

Clostridium perfringens

dispatch

date

test details


26/03/2018 M231e06 beef Clostridium perfringens equivalent to 10 g

30/04/2018 M232e06 milk powder Clostridium perfringens equivalent to 10 g


28/01/2019 M239e06 milk powder Clostridium perfringens equivalent to 10 g









9

Coagulase Positive Staphylococci

These tests typically employ S. aureus as the Coagulase Positive Staphylococcus organism but Fapas® reserves the

right to use an alternative Coagulase Positive Staphylococcus at any time.

dispatch

date

test details


29/01/2018 M229e14 beef Coagulase Positive

Staphylococci (see above)

equivalent to 10 g

04/06/2018 M233e14 milk powder Coagulase Positive


equivalent to 10 g



equivalent to 10 g

29/10/2018 M237e14 milk powder Coagulase Positive


equivalent to 10 g



equivalent to 10 g







10

Coliforms

dispatch

date

test details


26/02/2018 M230e18 milk powder Coliforms equivalent to 10 g

02/07/2018 M234e18 beef Coliforms equivalent to 10 g


26/11/2018 M238e04 beef Enterobacteriaceae, Coliforms &

Escherichia coli

equivalent to 10 g








11

Enterobacteriaceae

dispatch

date

test details


29/01/2018 M229e03 beef Enterobacteriaceae equivalent to 10 g


Plate Count

equivalent to 10 g

04/06/2018 M233e03 milk powder Enterobacteriaceae equivalent to 10 g

03/09/2018 M235e03 salad Enterobacteriaceae equivalent to 10 g


Escherichia coli

equivalent to 10 g

28/01/2019 M239e03 beef Enterobacteriaceae equivalent to 10 g


Plate Count

equivalent to 10 g









12

Enterococci

dispatch

date

test details


30/04/2018 M232e19 beef Enterococci equivalent to 10 g

Escherichia coli

dispatch

date

test details


30/04/2018 M232e10 beef Escherichia coli equivalent to 10 g

03/09/2018 M235e10* beef Escherichia coli (MPN) equivalent to 10 g

01/10/2018 M236e10 beef Escherichia coli equivalent to 10 g

29/10/2018 M237e10 milk powder Escherichia coli equivalent to 10 g


Escherichia coli

equivalent to 10 g

Footnotes

* This PT is for enumeration by the Most Probable Number method (MPN). Participants will be asked to submit results as

MPN/g.








13

Lactic Acid Bacteria

dispatch

date

test details


01/10/2018 M236e01 beef Lactic acid bacteria equivalent to 10 g

Listeria monocytogenes

dispatch

date

test details


26/03/2018 M231e02 chicken Listeria monocytogenes equivalent to 10 g

03/09/2018 M235e02 smoked fish Listeria monocytogenes equivalent to 10 g









14

Lactic Acid Bacteria

dispatch

date

test details


26/03/2018 M231e15 flour Yeasts & Moulds (sum of) equivalent to 10 g

04/06/2018 M233e15 beef Yeasts & Moulds (sum of) equivalent to 10 g


01/10/2018 M236e15 fruit juice Yeasts equivalent to 10 ml










15

Detection Tests

For each proficiency test in detection participants will receive 2 samples, either each equivalent to 25 g

or 10 g after reconstitution or two swabs.

Campylobacter spp.

dispatch

date

test details


30/04/2018 M232d17 chicken Campylobacter spp. equivalent to 2 x 25 g

02/07/2018 M234d17 milk powder Campylobacter spp. equivalent to 2 x 25 g

29/10/2018 M237d17 chicken Campylobacter spp. equivalent to 2 x 25 g

Cronobacter (Enterobacter) sakazakii

For this proficiency test participants will receive 2 samples each equivalent to 10 g after reconstitution.

dispatch

date

test details


26/02/2018 M230d20 infant formula Cronobacter (Enterobacter)

sakazakii

equivalent to 2 x 10 g

25/02/2019 M240d20 infant formula Cronobacter (Enterobacter)

sakazakii


https://fapas.com/shop/search?txtsearch=M232d17






16

Escherichia coli O157:H7

dispatch

date

test details


26/03/2018 M231d11 salad Escherichia coli O157:H7(1)


04/06/2018 M233d11 beef Escherichia coli O157:H7(1)


03/09/2018 M235d11 soft cheese Escherichia coli O157:H7(1)


29/10/2018 M237d11 beef Escherichia coli O157:H7(1)


26/11/2018 M238d11 sprouting seeds and

lettuce

Escherichia coli O157:H7(1)


25/03/2019 M241d11 salad Escherichia coli O157:H7(1)


Footnotes (1)

The strain of Escherichia coli O157:H7 used in our samples is atoxigenic, i.e. it does not produce a toxin. It has eae genes

but the genes for VT1/VT2/STX1/STX2 are absent.








17

Listeria monocytogenes/Listeria spp.

dispatch

date

test details


29/01/2018 M229d02 beef Listeria monocytogenes/

Listeria spp.


26/02/2018 M230d02 sponge swab Listeria monocytogenes/

Listeria spp.

2 x swab

26/03/2018 M231d02 milk powder Listeria monocytogenes/

Listeria spp.


30/04/2018 M232d02 soft cheese Listeria monocytogenes/

Listeria spp.


04/06/2018 M233d02 chicken Listeria monocytogenes/

Listeria spp.


02/07/2018 M234d02 dry cured meat Listeria monocytogenes/

Listeria spp.


01/10/2018 M236d02 smoked fish Listeria monocytogenes/

Listeria spp.


29/10/2018 M237d02 ready to eat (RTE) meal Listeria monocytogenes/

Listeria spp.


26/11/2018 M238d02 chicken Listeria monocytogenes/

Listeria spp.


28/01/2019 M239d02 beef Listeria monocytogenes/

Listeria spp.


25/02/2019 M240d02 sponge swab Listeria monocytogenes/

Listeria spp.

2 x swab

25/03/2019 M241d02 milk powder Listeria monocytogenes/

Listeria spp.















18

Salmonella spp.

dispatch

date

test details


29/01/2018 M229d071 milk powder Salmonella spp. equivalent to 2 x 25 g

29/01/2018 M229d072 chocolate Salmonella spp. equivalent to 2 x 25 g

26/02/2018 M230d071 chicken Salmonella spp. equivalent to 2 x 25 g

26/02/2018 M230d072 sponge swabs Salmonella spp. 2 x swab

26/03/2018 M231d07 dried egg Salmonella spp. equivalent to 2 x 25 g

30/04/2018 M232d07 sprouting seeds and

lettuce

Salmonella spp. equivalent to 2 x 25 g

04/06/2018 M233d07 salad Salmonella spp. equivalent to 2 x 25 g

02/07/2018 M234d071 animal feed Salmonella spp. equivalent to 2 x 25 g

02/07/2018 M234d072 herbs Salmonella spp. equivalent to 2 x 25 g



01/10/2018 M236d07 chocolate powder Salmonella spp. equivalent to 2 x 25 g

29/10/2018 M237d07 beef Salmonella spp. equivalent to 2 x 25 g

26/11/2018 M238d07 ground pepper Salmonella spp. equivalent to 2 x 25 g


28/01/2019 M239d072 chocolate Salmonella spp. equivalent to 2 x 25 g

25/02/2019 M240d07 sponge swabs Salmonella spp. 2 x swab

25/03/2019 M241d071 dried egg Salmonella spp. equivalent to 2 x 25 g






















19

Vibrio parahaemolyticus

dispatch

date

test details


26/02/2018 M230d21 fish Vibrio parahaemolyticus equivalent to 2 x 25 g







20

Appendix 1: Distribution Details January to March 2018

Beef Matrices

Distribution Number and Date of Dispatch

229 230 231

Enumeration Tests 29/01/18 26/02/18 26/03/18

Bacillus cereus/Aerobic Plate Count in beef

M230e13

Clostridium perfringens in beef M231e06

Coagulase Positive Staphylococci in beef (1)

M229e14

Coliforms in beef

Enterobacteriaceae / Aerobic Plate Count in beef

M231e05

Enterobacteriaceae in beef M229e03

Enterobacteriaceae / Coliforms / Escherichia coli in beef

Enterococci in beef

Escherichia coli in beef

Lactic Acid Bacteria in beef

Yeasts and Moulds in beef

Detection Tests

Escherichia coli O157:H7 in beef (2)

Listeria monocytogenes /Listeria spp. in beef

M229d02

Salmonella spp. in beef

(1) These tests typically employ S. aureus as the Coagulase Positive Staphylococcus organism but Fapas® reserves the right to use an alternative Coagulase Positive Staphylococcus at any time.

(2) The strain of Escherichia coli O157:H7 used in our samples is atoxigenic, i.e. it does not produce a toxin. It has eae genes but the genes for VT1/VT2/STX1/STX2 are absent.


21

Chicken and Fish Matrices

Distribution Number and Date of

Dispatch

229 230 231


Aerobic Plate Count in chicken

Listeria monocytogenes in chicken M231e02

Listeria monocytogenes in smoked fish

Detection Tests

Campylobacter spp. in chicken

(plus trial enumeration – chicken matrix,

free of charge, not currently covered by

our schedule of accreditation)

Listeria monocytogenes /Listeria spp. in

chicken

Salmonella spp. in chicken M230d071

Vibrio parahaemolyticus in fish M230d21


22

Milk Cheese and Egg Matrices


Dispatch

229 230 231


Aerobic Plate Count in milk powder M231e09

Bacillus cereus / Aerobic Plate Count

in milk powder

Clostridium perfringens in milk powder


in milk powder (1)

Coliforms in milk powder M230e18

Enterobacteriaceae in milk powder

Escherichia coli in milk powder

Detection Tests

Campylobacter spp. in milk powder


milk powder

M231d02


soft cheese

Salmonella spp. in egg (dried) M231d07

Salmonella spp. in milk powder M229d071



23

Miscellaneous Matrices (Enumeration)


Dispatch

229 230 231


Aerobic Plate Count on cotton swab

Bacillus cereus in cooked rice M229e12

Enterobacteriaceae in salad

Yeasts and Moulds in flour M231e15

Yeasts in fruit juice


24

Miscellaneous Matrices (Detection)


Dispatch

229 230 231

Detection Tests 29/01/18 26/02/18 26/03/18

Cronobacter (Enterobacter) sakazakii in

infant formula (1)

M230d20

Escherichia coli O157:H7 (2) in salad M231d11

Escherichia coli O157:H7 (2) in

sprouting seeds and lettuce

Listeria monocytogenes /Listeria

spp.on sponge swabs

M230d02

Salmonella spp. in animal feed

Salmonella spp. in chocolate M229d072

Salmonella spp. in chocolate powder

Salmonella spp. in ground pepper

Salmonella spp. in herbs

Salmonella spp. in salad

Salmonella spp. on sponge swabs (3) M230d072

Salmonella spp. in sprouting seeds and

lettuce

(1) For this detection test participants will receive 2 samples each equivalent to 10 g. (2) The strain of Escherichia coli O157:H7 used in our samples is atoxigenic, i.e. it does not produce a toxin. It has eae genes but the genes for VT1/VT2/STX1/STX2 are absent. (3) For these detection tests participants will receive 2 sponge swabs.


25

Appendix 2: Distribution Details April 2018 to March 2019

Beef Matrices


232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241

Enumeration Tests 30/04/18 04/06/18 02/07/18 03/09/18 01/10/18 29/10/18 26/11/18 28/01/19 25/02/19 25/03/19

Bacillus cereus/Aerobic Plate Count in beef M240e13

Clostridium perfringens in beef M237e06 M241e06

Coagulase Positive Staphylococci in beef (1)

M234e14 M239e14

Coliforms in beef M234e18

Enterobacteriaceae / Aerobic Plate Count in beef

M241e05

Enterobacteriaceae in beef M239e03

Enterobacteriaceae / Coliforms / Escherichia coli in beef

M238e04

Enterococci in beef M232e19

Escherichia coli in beef M232e10 M235e10 (3) M236e10

Lactic Acid Bacteria in beef M236e01

Yeasts and Moulds in beef M233e15

Detection Tests

Escherichia coli O157:H7 in beef (2) M233d11 M237d11

Listeria monocytogenes /Listeria spp. in beef M239d02

Listeria monocytogenes /Listeria spp. in dry cured meat

M234d02

Salmonella spp. in beef M237d07


(2) The strain of Escherichia coli O157:H7 used in our samples is atoxigenic, i.e. it does not produce a toxin. It has eae genes but the genes for VT1/VT2/STX1/STX2 are absent. (3) This PT is for enumeration by the Most Probable Number method (MPN). Participants will be asked to submit results as MPN/g.


26

Chicken and Fish Matrices


232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241


Aerobic Plate Count in chicken M238e09

Campylobacter spp. in chicken M238e17

Listeria monocytogenes in chicken M236e02 M241e02

Listeria monocytogenes in smoked fish M235e02

Detection Tests

Campylobacter spp. in chicken

(plus trial enumeration – chicken matrix,

free of charge, not currently covered by

our schedule of accreditation)

M232d17 M237d17


chicken

M233d02 M238d02


smoked fish

M236d02

Salmonella spp. in chicken M235d071 M239d071

Vibrio parahaemolyticus in fish M236d21 M240d21


27

Milk Cheese and Egg Matrices


232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241


Aerobic Plate Count in milk powder M235e09 M241e09

Bacillus cereus / Aerobic Plate Count

in milk powder

M232e13

Clostridium perfringens in milk powder M232e06 M239e06


in milk powder (1)

M233e14 M237e14

Coliforms in milk powder M235e18 M240e18

Enterobacteriaceae in milk powder M233e03

Escherichia coli in milk powder M237e10

Detection Tests

Campylobacter spp. in milk powder M234d17

Escherichia coli O157:H7(2)

in soft

cheese

M235d11


milk powder

M241d02


soft cheese

M232d02

Salmonella spp. in egg (dried) M241d071

Salmonella spp. in milk powder M235d072 M241d072


(2) The strain of Escherichia coli O157:H7 used in our samples is atoxigenic, i.e. it does not produce a toxin. It has eae genes but the genes for VT1/VT2 / STX1/STX2 are absent.


28

Miscellaneous Matrices (Enumeration)


232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241


Aerobic Plate Count on cotton swab M233e09

Bacillus cereus in cooked rice M235e12 M239e12

Enterobacteriaceae in salad M235e03

Yeasts and Moulds in flour M234e15 M238e15 M240e15

Yeasts in fruit juice M236e15


29

Miscellaneous Matrices (Detection)


232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241

Detection Tests 30/04/18 04/06/18 02/07/18 03/09/18 01/10/18 29/10/18 26/11/18 28/01/19 25/02/19 25/03/19

Cronobacter (Enterobacter) sakazakii in

infant formula (1)

M240d20

Escherichia coli O157:H7 (2) in salad M241d11

Escherichia coli O157:H7 (2) in

sprouting seeds and lettuce

M238d11

Listeria monocytogenes /Listeria spp in

Ready To Eat (RTE) meal

M237d02

Listeria monocytogenes /Listeria

spp.on sponge swabs(3)

M240d02

Salmonella spp. in animal feed M234d071

Salmonella spp. in chocolate M239d072

Salmonella spp. in chocolate powder M236d07

Salmonella spp. in ground pepper M238d07

Salmonella spp. in herbs M234d072

Salmonella spp. in salad M233d07

Salmonella spp. on sponge swabs (3) M240d07

Salmonella spp. in sprouting seeds and

lettuce

M232d07

(1) For this detection test participants will receive 2 samples each equivalent to 10 g. (2) The strain of Escherichia coli O157:H7 used in our samples is atoxigenic, i.e. it does not produce a toxin. It has eae genes but the genes for VT1/VT2/STX1/STX2 are absent. (3) For these detection tests participants will receive 2 sponge swabs.


30

Prices in €

PROFICIENCY TESTS Price EUR (€)

Each FEPAS® test 170

DISCOUNTS applicable to above prices

0-10 tests 0%

11-25 tests 10%

26 tests or more 25%

ADDITIONAL ITEMS Price EUR (€)

Each extra test material 70

Additional Customs documentation e.g. declaration letter 45

CARRIAGE CHARGES Price EUR (€)

EU Courier Charge 85 / ab 01.04.18 72

Non-EU Courier Charge 100 / ab 01.04.18 77

All prices additional German tax.


31

Technical Information

Protocols

Protocol part 1: Generic [English] [Espanol]

Protocol part 3: Fapas Food Microbiology [English] [Espanol]

Other technical documents

Example Report

On line results submission instructions [English] [Espanol]

Terms & Conditions

ISO Accreditation

The Fapas® proficiency testing schemes are accredited by UKAS, Proficiency Testing Provider No. 0009.

0009

UKAS Accreditation Certificate UKAS Schedule of Accreditation

This accreditation confirms that we comply with the requirements of International Standard ISO/IEC 17043:2010.

In addition, Fera is accredited by other external bodies to other internationally recognised certification including ISO 9001:2008.

Fera's Quality Documentation

Fapas® (and other proficiency testing schemes) does not award accreditation. That is the responsibility of national accreditation bodies. A list of national and international accreditation bodies can be found at www.fasor.com/iso25. Results of proficiency testing are used by laboratory accreditation bodies as part of the process to assess the ability of laboratories to perform analytical tests for which accreditation is required.

http://fapas.com/pdfpub/FeraPTSprotocol_pt1_common.pdf

http://fapas.com/pdfpub/FeraPTSprotocol_pt1_common_es.pdf

http://fapas.com/pdfpub/FeraPTSprotocol_pt3_foodMicro.pdf

http://fapas.com/pdfpub/FeraPTSprotocol_pt3_foodMicro_es.pdf

http://fapas.com/pdfpub/reportEXAMPLE.pdf

http://fapas.com/pdfpub/es_instructions.pdf

http://fapas.com/pdfpub/es_instructionsSpain.pdf

http://fapas.com/pdfpub/TandC.pdf

http://fapas.com/pdfpub/PTG_ISO17043cert.pdf

http://fapas.com/pdfpub/0009Proficiency%20Testing%20Single.pdf

http://www.fera.defra.gov.uk/aboutUs/commitmentToQuality.cfm

http://www.fasor.com/iso25

proficiency testing programme 2018/2019® food microbiology 3 who we are fapas® is the leading...

Documents