Category: EN – newsitem

In June 2020, MicroVal has approved the issuing of the certificate for One Broth One Plate for Salmonella (OBOP-S), manufactured by Neogen. Using traditional culture methodology, OBOP-S offers a rapid method for the enrichment and detection of Salmonella spp in a broad range of food, feed and environmental samples. The certificate results from a validation study performed by the MicroVal expert lab Qlaboratories. The data from this validation study will also be submitted to AOAC International for certification as part of a harmonized validation process. The certificate and the accompanying summary report, number 2019LR88, can be found under ‘issued certificates / alternative methods’.

In March 2020, MicroVal has approved the issuing of a certificate for CompactDry BC, manufactured by Nissui Pharmaceutical. This dry medium for the enumeration of presumptive Bacillus cereus in a broad range of foods was certified based on the results of a validation study, performed by Campden BRI. The certificate and the accompanying summary report, number 2019LR87, can be found here:

http://microval.org/en/issued-certificates/

MicroVal organizes a workshop on new developments and future needs of method validation. The workshop will take place in Munich on Monday 6 April 2020, which is one day before the IAFP European Symposium.

As a validation and certification organization, MicroVal often receives novel approaches towards detection methods for validation, which result in fierce and productive discussions during the MicroVal technical committee meetings. The day before IAFP’s European Symposium, MicroVal will open up these discussions for a wider audience, and the IAFP participants in particular, to exchange ideas and knowledge about new developments and future needs for method validation. Topics that will be discussed, are, amongst others, validation of confirmation methods against the recently published ISO 16140-6 and the semi-quantitative approach that gives a qualitative result.

Presentations will be given by Jacques-Antoine Hennekinne (Anses), Joost Witsenburg (MicroVal), Erin Crowley (Qlaboratories), Suzanne Jordan (Campden BRI), Danièle Sohier (Thermo Fischer) and Benjamin Diep (Nestlé).

To consult the full program and /or register for the workshop, click here.

Participation is free, but registration is required.

Practical information:

• Date: 6 April 2020
• Time: 13.00-17.00 hrs
• Location: Holiday Inn City Centre, Munich (DE)

 

MicroVal has approved the inclusion of the vetproof^® Salmonella Detection Kit (Product No. V 900 27) in the 2011LR42 certificate.

The vetproof^® Salmonella Detection Kit, specifically targeted for the qualitative detection of Salmonella spp. in veterinary / primary production samples, is manufactured by BIOTECON Diagnostics according to the same specifications and components as the foodproof^® Salmonella Detection LyoKit. In order to comply with regulations for veterinary diagnostic kits (notifiable disease), it is necessary for it to undergo additional external batch release testing.

The validation study for the foodproof^®Salmonella spp. method was performed by ADRIA Développement, France. The method is also PTM approved by the AOAC-RI and NordVal validated. MicroVal certificates can be found on the website here, together with the supporting summary reports. The vetproof^®Salmonella Detection Kit is additionally authorized and certified by the German Federal Research Institute for Animal Health (MA No. FLI-C 055, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut).

MicroVal has approved the issuing of its first certificate for a Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) detection method. bioMérieux GENE-UP EHEC detection method is validated as an equivalent alternative method to ISO/TS 13136 standard reference method to detect shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and the detection of shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) from O26, O103, O111, O145 and O157 serogroups in raw meat (except poultry), raw milk and raw milk cheeses. The validation was performed by the MicroVal expert lab ADRIA Développement.

The validation of GENE-UP EHEC turned out a very elaborate process. Meat products, by using sample sizes of 25g  and 375g, were analysed using 3 different enrichment protocols of which 2 with a short enrichment time. For the detection of STEC from O26, O103, O111, O145, and O157 serogroups, two extraction procedures before the PCR assays were included in the study: a mechanical cell disruption procedure (bead-beating) and the VIDAS^® ESPT assay for the specific immunocapture of the targeted serogroups.

For confirmation of positive PCR assays, in addition to a direct isolation procedure on selective agars, the VIDAS^® ESPT assay was also used to facilitate the recovery of the specific strains by limiting the background flora on selective agars. The multiplication of enrichment, extraction and confirmation protocols made this study highly challenging but comprehensive with more than 4,000 alternative PCR assays for the screening step. And finally, the interlaboratory study included 17 collaborators from 14 laboratories. Each collaborator performed the whole method from sample treatment to the final confirmation step.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are an important cause of food-borne illness. These pathogens can be responsible for gastrointestinal diseases ranging from diarrhea to haemorrhagic colitis and haemolytic uremic syndrome. As a result, the food industry needs fast, sensitive and complete methods for STEC detection to ensure a safe food supply. The certificate, number 2018LR84, can be found on the MicroVal website , together with its supporting summary report.

GENE-UP is a trademark of bioMérieux

MicroVal has approved the renewal of the certificate for BactoScan^TM FC and FC+, manufactured by Foss Analytical A/S. BactoScan^TM FC/FC+ gives an accurate determination of the hygienic quality of raw milk with a capacity of testing up to 200 samples per hour.

BactoScan^TM FC/FC+ was first validated in 2015. The validation study, then, was performed by Qlip, who have also been involved as expert lab in the renewal procedure. The validation has been performed in accordance with ISO 16140-2 and the EURL MMP document on the validation criteria of instrumental methods for enumeration of total flora in raw milk (Dec. 2011)

The certificate has number 2013LR45 and can be found on the MicroVal website, together with the supporting summary reports.

We are happy to welcome two new MicroVal Expert Laboratories: Laboratoire MicroSept (France) and WFC-Food Safety (The Netherlands). With that we now have eight labs that perform MicroVal validation studies.

A MicroVal expert lab is in charge of the co-ordination and supervision of the three phases of the validation procedure: (1) the development of the validation protocol, (2) the method comparison study of the alternative method against the reference method and (3) the interlaboratory study of both methods.

Our other labs are: ADRIA (France), Campden BRI (UK), Q-Laboratories (USA), Qlip (The Netherlands), Actalia Cecalait (France) and IZS (Italy). Contact details can be found on this page on our website.

MicroVal has approved the renewal and extension of the certificates for the foodproof^® Salmonella spp. method, manufactured by BIOTECON Diagnostics for the qualitative detection of Salmonella spp. in foods, feed and primary production samples.

The foodproof^® Salmonella spp. method was first validated in 2013 with an automated (certificate 2011LR40) and a manual sample preparation protocol (certificate 2011LR42).  Within the renewal study, the certificates were extended for the lyophilized version of the kit – the foodproof^® Salmonella Detection LyoKit. The study was performed by ADRIA Développement, France.

The method is also PTM approved by the AOAC-RI and NordVal validated.

The certificates can be found here on the MicroVal website, together with the supporting summary reports.