Understanding Microbiological Testing Methods and Applications

Image credit: diag.vn

What is microbial testing?

Microbial testing is necessary and required by many industries worldwide, where human health is at risk of being adversely affected by disease-causing bacteria and viruses, and microbial toxins.

How does microbiome testing work?

Microbiome testing measures the amount and types of microbes, such as bacteria and viruses, in your gut via a stool sample. While such tests may be conducted in a doctor’s office, a rise in at-home health testing has also led to an increase in microbiome testing kits you can complete on your own.

Why do we need a microbiological test?

It could be a legal requirement, as part of EU Regulation 2073/2005 on microbiological criteria for foodstuffs. It could be part of a finished product verification criteria, or for the protection of sensitive products and ingredients, or a complaints investigation into a quality or taint defect.

What are the criteria for a microbiological test?

It is based on the following criteria: n = number of samples to be tested (often 5); m = microbiological limit that separates good quality from marginal quality; M = microbiological limit above which sampling results are unacceptable; c = number of units allowed to yield results between m and M (often 2).

Why is microbiological testing important?

Microbiological testing can be a useful tool to support through-chain control measures. It may occur at different points in the food system from primary production, through production/processing and retail. Microbiological criteria may be established to examine ingredients, in-process products, end products, or environmental samples.

Why is microbiological testing important in food safety management?

Microbiological testing can play an important role in food safety management providing the reason for testing is clear and the test applied is appropriate. Microbiological criteria support decision making about a food or process when microbiological testing is used.

What are the limitations of microbiological testing?

The outputs of microbiological testing need to be interpreted with an understanding of their limitations. If analyses are not properly planned and performed, microbiological testing can provide inaccurate information, and create false assurances or unwarranted concerns about the safety of the food being analysed.

When should microbiological testing be applied?

The microbiological testing applied should be appropriate to the type of food being examined and the handling it has received. Marginal For processed foods indicates that contamination has occurred post processing (cross contamination from food contact surfaces, raw products or food handlers) or there has been inadequate processing.

What Is Microbiological Testing

1. https://www.biosafe.fi/insight/microbial-testing
2. https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/business/microbiological-limits
3. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/22155-bacteria-culture-test
4. https://www.healthline.com/health/microbiome-testing
5. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/microbiology
6. https://intubio.dk/resources/what-is-microbial-testing/
7. https://www.infinitiaresearch.com/en/news/microbiological-analyses-what-are-they-for/
8. https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/clinical-care-standards/antimicrobial-stewardship-clinical-care-standard/quality-statements/microbiological-testing
9. https://www.ifst.org/resources/information-statements/microbiological-analysis-key-considerations
10. https://biolabtests.com/explaining-microbiological-testing/

Microbiological Testing Information

1. https://www.foodauthority.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/_Documents/scienceandtechnical/microbiological_quality_guide_for_RTE_food.pdf