Proficiency Testing FINAL REPORT Food Microbiology Scheme ... · The Food Microbiology Scheme consists of 4 rounds. In this round, laboratories received 6 samples representing foods

This report is only for the use of participating laboratories

Proficiency TestingFINAL REPORT

Food Microbiology

food Non

2016

Proficiency Testing Provider Certificate Number 3189-02.

© IFM Quality Services Pty Ltd


roficiency TestingFINAL REPORT

Food Microbiology Scheme

food Non-pathogens16P6-NP

2016 August

Program Coordinator: Ingrid FlemmingIFM Quality Services Pty LtdPO Box 877 IngleburnNSW 2565 AustraliaTel: +61 (0)2 9618 3311Fax: +61 (0)2 9618 3355Samples Dispatched: 08 Results Due: 05 September 2016Report Issued: 23 September 2016

Page: 1

roficiency Testing

Food Microbiology

pathogens

Program Coordinator: Ingrid Flemming IFM Quality Services Pty Ltd PO Box 877 Ingleburn NSW 2565 Australia Tel: +61 (0)2 9618 3311 Fax: +61 (0)2 9618 3355 Samples Dispatched: 08 August 2016 Results Due: 05 September 2016

23 September 2016

Page: 2 © IFM Quality Services Pty Ltd


Operational Summary

Number of rounds and frequency of testing The Food Microbiology Scheme consists of 4 rounds. In this round, laboratories received 6 samples representing foods from a production facility. This report covers results for the three “food non-pathogen” samples.

Sample presentation and reconstitution Samples were presented in plastic sachets, labeled A, B and C. Samples resembled actual foods, and were blended from naturally and artificially contaminated materials. Participants were requested to treat them as “ready to test”.

Assurance of sample integrity Samples were prepared by the Support Division of IFM Quality Services. Homogeneity tests were conducted by the Testing Division of IFM Quality Services. On production, each sample batch was subjected to a homogeneity evaluation. Following initial acceptance, retained samples underwent regular monitoring to confirm ongoing homogeneity and fitness for purpose. All required homogeneity criteria were met.

Method of dispatch All samples were sent via express courier. Insulated packaging and a cooling agent were used to assist in protection against temperature fluctuations during transit.

Assessment procedure Please refer to IFM’s Policies on the assessment of microbiological PTP results:

http://www.ifmqs.com.au/proficiency/references/QPL001-04_Assessment_of_Microbiological_PT_Results.pdf

Participants with outliers are advised to consider their measurement uncertainty and customer expectations before determining whether corrective actions are necessary.

Dispute procedure Participants wishing to dispute their assessment, or appeal an evaluation on other grounds should submit their appeal in writing to the program coordinator.

Please refer to http://www.ifmqs.com.au/ifm_terms_and_conditions.htm for the detailed policy.

Confidentiality The identity of participants and any identifying information supplied by participants is treated as confidential. Appropriate policies and procedures have been put into place to ensure this confidentiality is maintained. Please refer to http://www.ifmqs.com.au/ifm_policy_on_confidentiality.htm for the detailed policy.

Test instructions Instructions applicable to this testing round may be found at:

http://www.ifmqs.com.au/proficiency/instructions/16P6NP_Instructions.pdf

http://www.ifmqs.com.au/proficiency/references/QPL001-04_Assessment_of_Microbiological_PT_Results.pdf

http://www.ifmqs.com.au/ifm_terms_and_conditions.htm

http://www.ifmqs.com.au/ifm_policy_on_confidentiality.htm

http://www.ifmqs.com.au/proficiency/instructions/16P6NP_Instructions.pdf



Individual results Should individual test results be required, these will be provided upon request.

Available Tests Tests Assessment and Acceptance Criteria

Enumeration (cfu/g) Bacillus cereus Coliform E. coli Enterobacteriaceae Thermotolerant (Faecal) Coliform Lactic acid bacteria Mould Plate Total Anaerobic Yeast

For enumerative tests, robust statistics are applied in order to determine a Z-score for each result. Acceptable Z-scores are |Z|<3. Whenever possible non-numeric results are assessed by applying simple pass/fail assessments without issue of Z-scores.

Variations to the normal assessment procedure will be detailed in the discussion.

Participation Summary 82 organisations enrolled 77 organisations participated 227 sets of results were submitted 3541 individual test results were received 3527 results were assessed 14 results were not assessed 140 results were assessed as outliers

Sample Content

Sample A RM Number Organism Name (IFM Number) RM1966 Lactobacillus fermentum (1514) RM2298 Candida utilis (0016) RM2315 Enterobacter aerogenes (2201) RM2328 Escherichia coli (2005) RM2352 Lactobacillus casei (1504) RM2411 Bacillus cereus (1604)



Duplicate Samples B and C RM Number Organism Name (IFM Number) RM1925 Klebsiella pneumoniae (2703) RM2299 Aspergillus niger (0019) RM2326 Bacillus cereus (1604) RM2328 Escherichia coli (2005)

Discussion Mould Count - Sample A

Sample A was not inoculated with mould. However, a low level of mould was present in the raw ingredients.

Lactic acid bacteria and Yeast Count – Duplicate Samples B and C

5 participants incorrectly enumerated lactic acid bacteria in both samples B and C. In total, 6 participants enumerated lactic acid bacteria in sample B and 7 in sample C.

4 participants incorrectly enumerated yeast in both samples B and C. No participant reported a false positive for both lactic acid bacteria and yeast across these samples. Monitoring of the sample by IFM’s laboratory confirmed the level of both lactic acid bacteria and yeast to be <10 cfu/g.



16P6NP Food Non PathogensBacillus cereus count

Sample A (cfu/g) - Log ValuesNumber of Results Received 70Number of Results Analysed 54Quartile 1 2.1538Quartile 3 2.4771IQR 0.3233NIQR 0.2397Median 2.3010Acceptable High:Median + (3*NIQR) 3.0200Acceptable Low:Median - (3*NIQR) 1.5820Statistically Acceptable Range 1.43800

5

10

15

20

25

30

<1.0

0

<2.0

0

Mor

e

1.65

4

1.81

6

1.97

8

2.13

9

2.30

1

2.46

3

2.62

4

2.78

6

2.94

8

Mor

e

BelowDetection

Limit

Result (cfu/g) - Log Values

Freq

uenc

y


Sample A

Non-numeric

Excluded

Included

Results

Bacillus cereus Count Sample A (cfu/g)




Sample B (cfu/g) - Raw ValuesNumber of Results Received 72Number of Results Analysed 21Quartile 1 23.0000Quartile 3 120.0000IQR 97.0000NIQR 71.9061Median 50.0000Acceptable High:Median + (3*NIQR) 265.7183Acceptable Low:Median - (3*NIQR) -165.7183Statistically Acceptable Range 431.43660

5

10

15

20

25

30

<10

<100

Mor

e

1.5

50.

98.5

147.

195.

5

244.

Mor

e

BelowDetection

Limit

Result (cfu/g) - Raw Values

Freq

uenc

y


Sample B

Non-numeric

Excluded

Included

Results

Bacillus cereus Count Sample B (cfu/g)




Sample C (cfu/g) - Log ValuesNumber of Results Received 72Number of Results Analysed 21Quartile 1 1.6990Quartile 3 2.3802IQR 0.6812NIQR 0.5050Median 2.0000Acceptable High:Median + (3*NIQR) 3.5150Acceptable Low:Median - (3*NIQR) 0.4850Statistically Acceptable Range 3.03000

5

10

15

20

25

<1.0

0

<2.0

0

Mor

e

0.63

8

0.97

8

1.31

9

1.65

9 2.

2.34

1

2.68

1

3.02

2

3.36

2

Mor

e

BelowDetection

Limit


Freq

uenc

y


Sample C

Non-numeric

Excluded

Included

Results

Bacillus cereus Count Sample C (cfu/g)



16P6NP Food Non PathogensColiform Count


0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

2.58

5

2.82

5

3.06

5

3.30

4

3.54

4

3.78

4

4.02

3

4.26

3

4.50

3

Mor

e

>2.4

78

>4.6

1

Mor

e

Pres

ent

Abse

nt

Result (cfu/g) - Log Values AboveDetection

Limit

Detection

Freq

uenc

y


Sample A

Non-numeric

Excluded

Included

Results

Coliform Count Sample A (cfu/g)




Sample B (cfu/g) - Log ValuesNumber of Results Received 192Number of Results Analysed 110Quartile 1 2.6628Quartile 3 3.0350IQR 0.3723NIQR 0.2760Median 2.8195Acceptable High:Median + (3*NIQR) 3.6474Acceptable Low:Median - (3*NIQR) 1.9916Statistically Acceptable Range 1.6558

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

2.07

5

2.26

1

2.44

7

2.63

3

2.82

3.00

6

3.19

2

3.37

8

3.56

4

Mor

e

>1.9

92

>3.6

47

Mor

e

Pres

ent

Abse

nt


Limit

Detection

Freq

uenc

y


Sample B

Non-numeric

Excluded

Included

Results

Coliform Count Sample B (cfu/g)





0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

2.13

1

2.29

6

2.46

2

2.62

7

2.79

2

2.95

8

3.12

3

3.28

8

3.45

4

Mor

e

>2.0

57

>3.5

28

Mor

e

Pres

ent

Abse

nt


Limit

Detection

Freq

uenc

y


Sample C

Non-numeric

Excluded

Included

Results

Coliform Count Sample C (cfu/g)



16P6NP Food Non PathogensE. coli Count


0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

<1.0

0

<2.0

0

Mor

e

2.05

4

2.27

9

2.50

4

2.72

9

2.95

4

3.17

9

3.40

4

3.62

9

3.85

4

Mor

e

>1.9

54

>3.9

55

Mor

e

Pres

ent

Abse

nt

BelowDetection

Limit


Limit

Detection

Freq

uenc

y


Sample A

Non-numeric

Excluded

Included

Results

E. coli Count Sample A (cfu/g)





0

10

20

30

40

50

60

<1.0

0

<2.0

0

Mor

e

0.96

8

1.31

7

1.66

5

2.01

3

2.36

2

2.71

3.05

8

3.40

7

3.75

5

Mor

e

>0.8

13

>3.9

11

Mor

e

Pres

ent

Abse

nt

BelowDetection

Limit


Limit

Detection

Freq

uenc

y


Sample B

Non-numeric

Excluded

Included

Results

E. coli Count Sample B (cfu/g)





0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

<1.0

0

<2.0

0

Mor

e

1.05

5

1.38

6

1.71

7

2.04

9

2.38

2.71

2

3.04

3

3.37

4

3.70

6

Mor

e

Pres

ent

Abse

nt

BelowDetection

Limit

Result (cfu/g) - Log Values Detection

Freq

uenc

y


Sample C

Non-numeric

Excluded

Included

Results

E. coli Count Sample C (cfu/g)



16P6NP Food Non PathogensEnterobacteriaceae Count


0

5

10

15

20

25

30

2.98

6

3.12

8

3.27

3.41

2

3.55

3

3.69

5

3.83

7

3.97

8

4.12

Mor

e


Freq

uenc

y


Sample A

Excluded

Included

Results

Enterobacteriaceae Count Sample A (cfu/g)





0

5

10

15

20

25

30

2.29

9

2.42

9

2.55

9

2.69

2.82

2.95

3.08

3.21

3.34

Mor

e


Freq

uenc

y


Sample B

Excluded

Included

Results

Enterobacteriaceae Count Sample B (cfu/g)





0

5

10

15

20

25

30

2.30

3

2.42

7

2.55

1

2.67

5

2.79

9

2.92

3

3.04

8

3.17

2

3.29

6

Mor

e


Freq

uenc

y


Sample C

Excluded

Included

Results

Enterobacteriaceae Count Sample C (cfu/g)



16P6NP Food Non PathogensThermotolerant (Faecal) Coliform Count


0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

1.60

6

1.96

5

2.32

4

2.68

3

3.04

1

3.4

3.75

9

4.11

8

4.47

6

Mor

e

>1.4

46

>4.6

37

Mor

e

Pres

ent

Abse

nt


Limit

Detection

Freq

uenc

y


Sample A

Non-numeric

Excluded

Included

Results

Thermotolerant (Faecal) Coliform Count Sample A (cfu/g)





0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1.69

4

1.93

6

2.17

8

2.42

2.66

3

2.90

5

3.14

7

3.39

3.63

2

Mor

e

>1.5

85

>3.7

4

Mor

e

Pres

ent

Abse

nt


Limit

Detection

Freq

uenc

y


Sample B

Non-numeric

Excluded

Included

Results

Thermotolerant (Faecal) Coliform Count Sample B (cfu/g)





0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1.78

1

2.00

2

2.22

2

2.44

2

2.66

3

2.88

3

3.10

3

3.32

4

3.54

4

Mor

e

>1.6

83

>3.6

43

Mor

e

Pres

ent

Abse

nt


Limit

Detection

Freq

uenc

y


Sample C

Non-numeric

Excluded

Included

Results

Thermotolerant (Faecal) Coliform Count Sample C (cfu/g)



16P6NP Food Non PathogensLactic acid bacteria Count


0

2

4

6

8

10

12

4.42

4.59

4

4.76

7

4.94

1

5.11

4

5.28

7

5.46

1

5.63

4

5.80

8

Mor

e


Freq

uenc

y


Sample A

Excluded

Included

Results

Lactic acid bacteria Count Sample A (cfu/g)



0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Below Detection Limit False Positive NotAssessed


Sample B (cfu/g)

Freq

uenc

y

Excluded

Included

Results

Lactic acid bacteria Count Sample B (cfu/g)



0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35



Sample C (cfu/g)

Freq

uenc

y

Excluded

Included

Results

Lactic acid bacteria Count Sample C (cfu/g)



16P6NP Food Non PathogensMould Count

Sample A (cfu/g) - Raw ValuesNumber of Results Received 179Number of Results Analysed 34Quartile 1 10.0000Quartile 3 72.5000IQR 62.5000NIQR 46.3313Median 22.5000Acceptable High:Median + (3*NIQR) 161.4938Acceptable Low:Median - (3*NIQR) -116.4938Statistically Acceptable Range 277.98750

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

<10

<100

Mor

e

22.5

53.7

5

85.

116.

25

147.

5

Mor

e

BelowDetection

Limit

Result (cfu/g) - Raw Values

Freq

uenc

y


Sample A

Non-numeric

Excluded

Included

Results

Mould Count Sample A (cfu/g)





10

20

30

40

50

60

<1.0

0

<2.0

0

Mor

e

1.75

8

1.90

4

2.05

2.19

6

2.34

2

2.48

9

2.63

5

2.78

1

2.92

7

Mor

e

BelowDetection

Limit


Freq

uenc

y


Sample B

Non-numeric

Excluded

Included

Results

Mould Count Sample B (cfu/g)





10

20

30

40

50

60

<1.0

0

<2.0

0

Mor

e

1.84

6

1.97

5

2.10

4

2.23

3

2.36

2

2.49

1

2.61

9

2.74

8

2.87

7

Mor

e

BelowDetection

Limit


Freq

uenc

y


Sample C

Non-numeric

Excluded

Included

Results

Mould Count Sample C (cfu/g)



16P6NP Food Non PathogensPlate Count


0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

3.16

7

3.62

1

4.07

6

4.53

4.98

5

5.43

9

5.89

3

6.34

8

6.80

2

Mor

e


Freq

uenc

y

16P6NP Food Non PathogensPlate CountSample A

Excluded

Included

Results

Plate Count Sample A (cfu/g)





0

10

20

30

40

50

60

2.64

6

2.77

9

2.91

1

3.04

4

3.17

6

3.30

9

3.44

1

3.57

4

3.70

6

Mor

e


Freq

uenc

y

16P6NP Food Non PathogensPlate CountSample B

Excluded

Included

Results

Plate Count Sample B (cfu/g)





0

10

20

30

40

50

60

2.69

8

2.83

1

2.96

4

3.09

7

3.23

3.36

4

3.49

7

3.63

3.76

3

Mor

e


Freq

uenc

y

16P6NP Food Non PathogensPlate CountSample C

Excluded

Included

Results

Plate Count Sample C (cfu/g)



16P6NP Food Non PathogensTotal Anaerobic Count


0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

4.63

5

4.72

4

4.81

3

4.90

2

4.99

1

5.08

5.16

9

5.25

8

5.34

7

Mor

e


Freq

uenc

y


Sample A

Excluded

Included

Results

Total Anaerobic Count Sample A (cfu/g)





0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

2.60

7

2.71

6

2.82

4

2.93

3

3.04

1

3.15

3.25

8

3.36

7

3.47

5

Mor

e


Freq

uenc

y


Sample B

Excluded

Included

Results

Total Anaerobic Count Sample B (cfu/g)





0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

2.55

6

2.66

7

2.77

8

2.88

9 3.

3.11

1

3.22

2

3.33

3

3.44

4

Mor

e


Freq

uenc

y


Sample C

Excluded

Included

Results

Total Anaerobic Count Sample C (cfu/g)



16P6NP Food Non PathogensYeast Count


10

20

30

40

50

60

70

<1.0

0

<2.0

0

Mor

e

2.59

3

2.75

2

2.91

2

3.07

1

3.23

3.39

3.54

9

3.70

9

3.86

8

Mor

e

BelowDetection

Limit


Freq

uenc

y


Sample A

Non-numeric

Excluded

Included

Results

Yeast Count Sample A (cfu/g)



0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180



Sample B (cfu/g)

Freq

uenc

y

Excluded

Included

Results

Yeast Count Sample B (cfu/g)



0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180



Sample C (cfu/g)

Freq

uenc

y

Excluded

Included

Results

Yeast Count Sample C (cfu/g)



�End of Report�

Documents

Proficiency Testing FINAL REPORT Food Microbiology Scheme ... · The Food Microbiology Scheme consists of 4 rounds. In this round, laboratories received 6 samples representing foods