USDA-FSIS Publishes List of Validated Foodborne Pathogen Test Kits
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) has published a list of foodborne pathogen test kits that have received third-party validation.
The list includes test kits for Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria spp. and L. monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli O157:H7 and non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli. The guidance applies to official establishments and actions they may take when considering which optional validated test kits to use to meet regulatory requirements for pathogen testing.
FSIS does not require the use of any specific test kit, and the guidance does not imply the agency’s endorsement or approval of any kit. In general, FSIS recommends that establishments and laboratories choose kits that are validated for relevant foods by 1) a recognized independent body, 2) a U.S. regulatory body, or 3) an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) process. Validated methods should be fit-for-purpose and performed per the conditions of the validated protocol by a laboratory that assures the quality of results.
The full list, which FSIS intends to update on a quarterly basis, can be found here.
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