Food Safety Magazine, February/March 2012

TESTING(continued from page 15)Deciding to Use a LaboratoryThis is arguably one of your most importantdecisions in testing. The decisionto outsource or not, followed by selectingthe preferred lab with whom to establisha long-termworking relationshipwill influence yourother decisions relatedto method selection.Your laboratory partnershould be a resource,able and willing tohelp you evaluate optionsand make decisions(see the sidebar,below). You maychoose to associatewith a reputable thirdpartylab for all or justa portion of yourtesting.Outsourcing bringsmany advantages, including:Independence inReporting Results. A third-party lab bringsan expectation of impartiality to yourcertificate of analysis (CoA) and relievesdirect employees from being responsiblefor defending positive results when theydo arise.Employee Training. Running a laboratoryrequires hiring and training laboratorypersonnel to perform the analyticalwork required. Working with a thirdpartylab that is experienced in hiring““One essentialelement of a welldesignedfood safetyprogram is adequateand appropriateand developing these specialized skills allowsyou to focus on efficiency in yourcore business of food production.ISO 17025 Accreditation. Laboratoryaccreditation is an important assurancethat analytical methodsare performed properlyand results are reproducible.LIMS Database. In additionto providing aCoA, your third-partylab may provide accessto a database programthat allows you to createreports and observetrends in your data.Automation of thesecapabilities can savesignificant labor costsassociated with creatingreports manuallywithin your organization.Costs. You may findthat outsourcing yourtesting is economically favorable whenyou add up all the costs associated withrunning an on-site laboratory, includingthe hidden costs of labor, systems, training,documentation, accreditations andoverhead.testing of both the”environment andproduct.”SummaryIn 2011, an outbreak of cantaloupeassociatedlisteriosis resulted in 30deaths, 146 infections and 1 miscarriageMore Information about LaboratoriesAPI Test Data: The American Proficiency Institute (API) provides a servicethat quantifies laboratory performance at accurately achieving the correct resultfor tested parameters on supplied samples. While API data are importantin evaluating the performance of a laboratory to accurately determine the statusof a supplied sample, it is improper to use these data to form a judgmentabout the overall sensitivity and specificity of a particular test method.ISO 17025 Laboratory Accreditation: This is your assurance that the laboratoryyou are considering to perform your testing has demonstrated proficiencyperforming the analytical method listed on the scope of accreditation. Yourlaboratory should be accredited to perform the testing that your business requires.As part of your review process, verify that the selected Listeria testmethod to be used is included in the current laboratory scope-of-accreditationdocument.over a 28-state distribution—one of theworst foodborne disease outbreaks inU.S. history. The Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention investigation ofthis outbreak revealed the disturbing failureof a food safety system that couldhave prevented this catastrophe. Previouslisteriosis outbreaks are remarkablysimilar to the events of the 2011 outbreak—L.monocytogenes in a food productionenvironment went undetected foran extended period, eventually resultingin product contamination and subsequenthuman health consequences.As an industry, we have the tools todetect and prevent outbreaks of listeriosisand other foodborne disease. One essentialelement of a well-designed foodsafety program is adequate and appropriatetesting of both the environment andproduct. I have attempted to highlightthe emerging developments in Listeriatesting and the fundamentals of choosingthe most appropriate testingapproach for your business. nJim Byron shares his extensive knowledge and diverseexperience gained as an executive in thewater, chemicals, food testing laboratory and testkits business. With over 20 years of successful salesand marketing leadership in the energy and chemicalsindustry, he was recruited to a leadership rolein biotechnology and food safety in 2005. His scientificwork in close association with food industryleaders, exposure to production systems andstrong business foundation allow Byron to provideclear and useful information about Listeria testingto managers in today’s food production environment.He can be reached at 484.356.7283,www.linkedin.com/in/jimbyron828 orjb@xgenex.com.For more information on Listeria test kitsand the AOAC methods used, please seewww.foodsafetymagazine.com/article.asp?id=4446&sub=sub1.For more information on testing forListeria and other foodborneillness-causing microorganisms,please visitwww.foodsafetymagazine.com/signature.asp.64 F O O D S A F E T Y M A G A Z I N E