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Proficiency testing in food microbiology “Aqua”: enumeration of Staphylococcus aureus

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Abstract

In 1999 the Food Microbiology laboratory of the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe) started an interlaboratory comparison program for food microbiological tests, known as “Aqua, interlaboratory comparisons for quality assurance”. Aqua produces the test samples, applies statistical methods to estimate homogeneity and stability, processes and evaluates the results. The proficiency testing results allow to evaluate the performance of the laboratories, to identify possible differences and non-conformity, to demonstrate the competence and the quality of results, in order to take suitable corrective and/or preventive action after the individuation of the causes. Moreover, elaborating the results of several proficiency testing by using the control chart method, it is possible to evaluate the trend of the laboratory and to verify that the results are in statistical quality control.

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References

  1. ISO/IEC Guide 43-1 1997(E) Proficiency testing by interlaboratory comparisons—Part 1: development and operation of proficiency testing schemes

  2. ILAC-G13 (2007) Guidelines for the requirements for the competence of providers of proficiency testing schemes

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  4. ISO 6888-2 (1999) Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs—horizontal method for the enumeration of coagulase-positive staphylococci (Staphylococcus aureus and other species). Part 2: Technique using rabbit plasma fibrinogen agar medium

  5. ISO 6888-1 (1999) Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs—horizontal method for the enumeration of coagulase-positive staphylococci (Staphylococcus aureus and other species). Part 1: Technique using Baird–Parker agar medium

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Struttura Complessa di Microbiologia Alimentare, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Padua, Italy

    M. Grimaldi, R. Trevisan & R. Mioni

  2. Struttura complessa di Analisi del Rischio e Sistemi di Sorveglianza in Sanità Pubblica, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Padua, Italy

    M. Mancin

Authors
  1. M. Grimaldi
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  2. M. Mancin
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  3. R. Trevisan
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  4. R. Mioni
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Correspondence to M. Mancin.

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Grimaldi, M., Mancin, M., Trevisan, R. et al. Proficiency testing in food microbiology “Aqua”: enumeration of Staphylococcus aureus . Accred Qual Assur 14, 503–505 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00769-009-0572-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00769-009-0572-1

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