The 20th EU Interlaboratory comparison study in primary production (2017) : Detection of Salmonella in chicken faeces

This report contains an erratum d.d. 17-7-2018 after page 34. In March 2017, the twentieth EURL-Salmonella interlaboratory comparison study on the detection of Salmonella in samples taken from the primary production stage was organised. Participation was obligatory for all EU Member State National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) responsible for the detection of Salmonella in these types of samples. Results. All laboratories were able to detect Salmonella in all the contaminated chicken faeces samples. Both the blank control sample and the positive control sample were analysed correctly by all laboratories. One laboratory made a labelling mistake and switched the process control for the positive control and therefore scored a 'moderate performance'. Blank samples containing chicken faeces not contaminated with Salmonella were correctly analysed as negative by almost all laboratories. One laboratory found Salmonella present in 3 of the 6 blank samples; this was indicated as a 'poor performance'. Participants. In total, 36 NRLs participated in this study: 29 NRLs from 28 EU Member States, 6 NRLs from other countries in Europe (EU candidate or potential EU candidate Member States and countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA)) and, on request of the European Commission, one NRL from a non-European country. EURL-Salmonella is situated at the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). The main task of EURL-Salmonella is to monitor and improve the performance of the national reference laboratories in Europe. Design of study. Each laboratory received a package of chicken faeces samples. The samples were contaminated by the EURL-Salmonella at two different Salmonella concentrations: high and low. The package also included blank samples without Salmonella. The laboratories were asked to analyse the samples according to the internationally prescribed method for the detection of Salmonella