Instruction Sheets

QMS
Food Microbiology Proficiency Testing Scheme

lgcstandards.com/AXIO

Issue No: 24
Issued: 09/05/2024
 QMS – Food Microbiology
Proficiency Testing Scheme

Sample ID Protocol Page

General Information 4-5
PT-MC-03 FM10M-A 6
PT-MC-04 FM25M-B 14
PT-MC-05 FM10M-A 6
PT-MC-06CF. FM1V25M 10
PT-MC-06CH FM1V25M 10
PT-MC-06D FM25M-A 13
PT-MC-06EG. FM1V25M 10
PT-MC-06F FM25M-A 13
PT-MC-06HB FM1V25M 10
PT-MC-06NS FM1V25M 10
PT-MC-06SP FM1V25M 10
PT-MC-06TE FM1V25M 10
PT-MC-06VG FM1V25M 10
PT-MC-07CH FM1V25M 10
PT-MC-07D FM25M-A 13
PT-MC-07F FM25M-A 13
PT-MC-07HB FM1V25M 10
PT-MC-07VG. FM25M-A 13
PT-MC-08 FM10M-A 6
PT-MC-09 FM10M-A 6
PT-MC-10 FM10M-A 6
PT-MC-11 FM10M-A 6
PT-MC-12 FM25M-A 13
PT-MC-13 FM25M-A 13
PT-MC-14 FM25M-A 13
PT-MC-15 FM10M-A 6
PT-MC-16 FM10M-A 6
PT-MC-17 FM10M-A 6
PT-MC-18 FM10M-A 6
PT-MC-20 FM10M-A 6
PT-MC-21. FM1V25M2 19
PT-MC-22 FM25M-A 13
PT-MC-23 FM10M-A 6
PT-MC-24 FM10M-A 6
PT-MC-24HB FM1V10M 8
PT-MC-24SP FM1V10M 8
PT-MC-25 FM10M-A 6

Continued on next page…

Issue No: 24
Issued on 09/05/2024
Page 2 of 26
 QMS – Food Microbiology
Proficiency Testing Scheme

Sample ID Protocol Page

PT-MC-26 FM10M-A 6
PT-MC-27 FM1V-B 20
PT-MC-29 FM1V10M 8
PT-MC-32 FM1V10M 8
PT-MC-33 FM1V-C 21
PT-MC-34 FM1V-C 21
PT-MC-35 FM1P 18
PT-MC-36 FM2V20M 16
PT-MC-37 FM2V200M 17
PT-MC-38 FM1V20M 9
PT-MC-39 FM10M-C 7
PT-MC-40 FM1V375M 12
PT-MC-41 FM1V10M 8
PT-MC-42 FM1V25M 10
PT-MC-43 FM1V375M 12
PT-MC-44 FM1V100M 11
PT-MC-45 FM1V10M 8
PT-MC-46 FM25M2 15
PT-MC-47 FM1V125M 22
PT-MC-48 FM2V100M 23
PT-MC-50 FM1V10M 8
PT-MC-51 FM5V 26
PT-MC-52 FM3V 24
PT-MC-53 FM3V 24
PT-MC-54 FM1-D 25

Issue No: 24
Issued on 09/05/2024
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 QMS – Food Microbiology
Proficiency Testing Scheme

GENERAL INFORMATION

Receipt and Storage

 On receipt of the test material, record the date and store refrigerated at 2-8ºC until
ready to test.
 The test material should be analysed in accordance with the deadlines shown on
the website: https://portal.lgcstandards.com
 The test materials represent ‘real’ food samples, which may or may not contain the
target organism(s), at a range of inoculum levels. Test materials may also contain
background flora.
 Please consider all dilution factors when calculating the level of the target
organisms in the original sample. Where relevant guidance is given in the
instructions.
 The test materials should be treated in the same way as routine samples and should
therefore be tested using your routine laboratory equipment, reagents and methods.
 Where the instruction mentions a resuscitate step, the lyophilised test material
should be left at room temperature for between 15 to 45 minutes before proceeding
with the test.
 Do not sub-divide samples prior to dilution unless stated in the instructions.
 Please treat the sample as contaminated material and use aseptic techniques
throughout the test procedure.
 Please ensure samples are mixed well at all stages before proceeding with testing.
 Reconstitute the test material according to the appropriate instructions for each
sample type.

Precautions
 Microbiological test materials contain viable micro-organisms and are supplied
on the understanding that the purchaser has suitably competent and qualified
personnel to handle them safely. Test materials must only be opened in a
laboratory by qualified personnel.
 Refer to the Safety Data Sheet for information on the safe handling and disposal
of the test materials

Reporting Results
 All results should be submitted using PORTAL
 Please go to https://portal.lgcstandards.com
 Login using your Lab ID, username, and password.
 A PORTAL user guide can be downloaded from the help section.

Issue No: 24
Issued on 09/05/2024
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 QMS – Food Microbiology
Proficiency Testing Scheme

If you need any help at all, please do not hesitate to contact our support
team using the details below or your local LGC representative.

Tel: +44(0)161 762 2500

Email: axiopt@lgcgroup.com

Issue No: 24
Issued on 09/05/2024
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 QMS – Food Microbiology
Proficiency Testing Scheme

Sample codes: Description:

Protocol
FM10M-A PT-MC-03 PT-MC-05 PT-MC-08 PT-MC-09
10g food matrix
PT-MC-10 PT-MC-11 PT-MC-15 PT-MC-16
PT-MC-17 PT-MC-18 PT-MC-20 PT-MC-23
PT-MC-24 PT-MC-25 PT-MC-26

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Issued on 09/05/2024
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 QMS – Food Microbiology
Proficiency Testing Scheme

Sample codes: Description:

Protocol
FM10M-C PT-MC-39
10g food matrix

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Issue No: 24
Issued on 09/05/2024
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 QMS – Food Microbiology
Proficiency Testing Scheme

Sample codes: Description:

Protocol
1 vial + 10g food matrix
FM1V10M PT-MC-24HB PT-MC-24SP PT-MC-29
PT-MC-41 PT-MC-45 PT-MC-50
PT-MC-32

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Issue No: 24
Issued on 09/05/2024
Page 8 of 26
 QMS – Food Microbiology
Proficiency Testing Scheme

Sample codes: Description:

Protocol
1 vial + 20g (minimum)
FM1V20M PT-MC-38
food matrix

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Issue No: 24
Issued on 09/05/2024
Page 9 of 26
 QMS – Food Microbiology
Proficiency Testing Scheme

Sample codes: Description:

Protocol
1 vial + 25g food
FM1V25M PT-MC-06CF. PT-MC-06CH PT-MC-06EG.
matrix
PT-MC-06HB PT-MC-06NS PT-MC-06SP
PT-MC-06TE PT-MC-06VG. PT-MC-07CH
PT-MC-07HB PT-MC-42

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Issue No: 24
Issued on 09/05/2024
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 QMS – Food Microbiology
Proficiency Testing Scheme

Sample codes: Description:

Protocol
1 vial + 100g
FM1V100M PT-MC-44
(minimum) food
matrix

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Issue No: 24
Issued on 09/05/2024
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 QMS – Food Microbiology
Proficiency Testing Scheme

Sample codes: Description:

Protocol
375g (minimum) food
FM1V375M PT-MC-40 PT-MC-43
matrix + vial

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Issue No: 24
Issued on 09/05/2024
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 QMS – Food Microbiology
Proficiency Testing Scheme

Sample codes: Description:

Protocol
FM25M-A PT-MC-06D PT-MC-06F PT-MC-07D 25g food matrix
PT-MC-07F PT-MC-07VG PT-MC-12
PT-MC-13 PT-MC-14 PT-MC-22

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Issue No: 24
Issued on 09/05/2024
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 QMS – Food Microbiology
Proficiency Testing Scheme

Sample codes: Description:

Protocol
FM25M-B PT-MC-04
25g food matrix

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Issue No: 24
Issued on 09/05/2024
Page 14 of 26
 QMS – Food Microbiology
Proficiency Testing Scheme

Sample codes: Description:

Protocol PT-MC-46
2 x 25g food matrix
FM25M2

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Issue No: 24
Issued on 09/05/2024
Page 15 of 26
 QMS – Food Microbiology
Proficiency Testing Scheme

Sample codes: Description:

Protocol
2 vials
FM2V20M PT-MC-36
(representing 2
separate samples)
+ 20g (minimum)
food matrix

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Issue No: 24
Issued on 09/05/2024
Page 16 of 26
 QMS – Food Microbiology
Proficiency Testing Scheme

Sample codes: Description:

Protocol
2 vials
FM2V200M PT-MC-37
(representing 2
separate samples)
+ 200g (minimum)
food matrix

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Issued on 09/05/2024
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 QMS – Food Microbiology
Proficiency Testing Scheme

Sample codes: Description:

Protocol
FM1P PT-MC-35
Paper exercise

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Issue No: 24
Issued on 09/05/2024
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 QMS – Food Microbiology
Proficiency Testing Scheme

Sample codes: Description:

Protocol
1 vial + 25g
FM1V25M2 PT-MC-21.
(minimum) food
matrix

Step 2
Step 1
Prepare 225ml or 90ml of
Decide whether you wish
your chosen enrichment
to test the sample as a 25g
broth depending on the
portion or a 10g portion
sample size you are testing

Step 4
Step 3 Replace the vial stopper
Add 10ml of the broth and shake gently to
prepared in step 2 to the dissolve. Allow 15-45 min
vial to resuscitate before
proceeding

Step 6
Step 5 Add the remaining
Aseptically weigh the enrichment broth followed
portion from the matrix by the resuscitated
provided material to the 10g or 25g
sample

Step 7 Step 8
Mix the diluted test Proceed with your routine
material thoroughly testing

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Issue No: 24
Issued on 09/05/2024
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 QMS – Food Microbiology
Proficiency Testing Scheme

Sample codes: Description:

Protocol
FM1V-B PT-MC-27
10ml vial

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Issue No: 24
Issued on 09/05/2024
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 QMS – Food Microbiology
Proficiency Testing Scheme

Sample codes: Description:

Protocol
FM1V-C PT-MC-33 PT-MC-34
10ml vial
containing
lyophilised pellet

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Issue No: 24
Issued on 09/05/2024
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 QMS – Food Microbiology
Proficiency Testing Scheme

Sample codes: Description:

Protocol
125g (minimum)
FM1V125M PT-MC-47
food matrix + vial

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Issue No: 24
Issued on 09/05/2024
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 QMS – Food Microbiology
Proficiency Testing Scheme

Sample codes: Description:

Protocol
2 x vial (representing 2
FM2V100M PT-MC-48
separate samples) +
100g food matrix

Note: for each sample, participants will test for Salmonella in 25g, and
for Cronobacter in 10g OR 25g

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Issue No: 24
Issued on 09/05/2024
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 QMS – Food Microbiology
Proficiency Testing Scheme

Sample codes: Description:

Protocol PT-MC-52 PT-MC-53
3 x vial
FM3V

Step 1 Step 2
Add 1ml of sterile The resulting
deionised water or suspension can now be
suitable microbiological tested directly or used
diluent and shake to inoculate your
gently until all the pellet selected media in
has dissolved preparation for testing

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Sample codes: Description:

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 QMS – Food Microbiology
Proficiency Testing Scheme

Protocol PT-MC-54
1 x vial
FM1V-D

Step 1 Step 2
Add 1ml of sterile The resulting
deionised water or suspension can now be
suitable microbiological tested directly or used
diluent and shake to inoculate your
gently until all the pellet selected media in
has dissolved preparation for testing

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Sample codes: Description:

Protocol PT-MC-51

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 QMS – Food Microbiology
Proficiency Testing Scheme

FM5V 5 x vial

Step 2
Step 1
Incubate according to
Aseptically add 10ml of
the recommendation of
sterile water to each
your method for
vial
mesophilic flora

Step 4
Report sterility as
Step 3
‘passed’ or ‘failed’.
Test using your routine
Option: Identify the
testing method
organisms present in
the ‘failed’ samples

Note: In the context of the PT round (time constrained) you may not be
able to follow your exact routine procedure. If so, please specify in
the comment the difference between the PT and routine incubation
time

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Issue No: 24
Issued on 09/05/2024
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