Proficiency testing catalogue - LGC Standards

QMAS - Meat schemeThe Quality in Meat Analysis Scheme (QMAS) isintended for use by chemists and microbiologistsworking in the meat and meat productsindustries. The scheme is also suitable for usein the fish processing industry, by the inclusionof a fish test material. Legislation in the formof EU Regulation 882/2004 ‘Official ControlsPerformed to Ensure the Verification ofCompliance with Feed and Food Law, AnimalHealth and Animal Welfare Rules’ requiresofficial control laboratories to be accredited toISO/IEC 17025 and therefore to use externalmeans of monitoring performance such asproficiency testing. In practice, many industrylaboratories and third party (contract) laboratoriesare also accredited and will use QMAS as ameans of monitoring the quality of analysis.For microbiological determinations, test materialsare provided in a lyophilised meat matrix. Testmaterials are available for the analysis ofindicator organisms, as performed routinely infactory based laboratories and off-site contracttesting facilities. There are also test materialsfor pathogen analysis suitable for laboratoriespermitted to undertake this analysis, often carriedout by external providers.The full range and availability of test materialsin QMAS is determined on an annual basisand further details can be found in the QMASapplication form and scheme description.FoodPT schemesA variety of real meat test materials in a vacuumpacked format is provided for participants,enabling them to analyse a comprehensiverange of relevant chemical tests which are allwidely used in the meat and food sectors. Thereal fish test material allows laboratories toperform a range of basic proximate analyses(fat, ash, salt, protein and moisture), and thelyophilised meat test material provides a highlystable matrix for the analysis of nitrite and nitrate.Test materialAnalytesChemical:Ash, Carbohydrate, Energy, Fat,Hydroxyproline, Moisture,Nitrate, Nitrite, Phosphate,Protein, Sodium, Salt, Saturates,Mono-unsaturated fats, Polyunsaturated fats, Total Fat, TotalTrans Fatty Acids.Meat and FishMicrobiological:Enumeration:Coliforms, Enterobacteriaceae,Escherichia coli, Total aerobicmesophilic count.Presence/absence:Listeria species, Listeriamonocytogenes, Salmonellaspecies.Note: Test materials and analytes may be added or removed, pleasesee current application form.Email: customerservices@lgcpt.comWebsite: www.lgcpt.com17