Proficiency testing is the evaluation of a participant’s performance against pre-established criteria by means of interlaboratory comparisons. Participation in interlaboratory comparisons and proficiency testing (PT) is an important tool for laboratories to check the reliability of their results by comparison of test results within peer group and to demonstrate laboratory performance to its customers and the accreditation bodies.
Proficiency Testing
Laboratories and inspection bodies (where relevant) seeking accreditation from the Philippine Accreditation Bureau (PAB) are required to provide evidence of satisfactory participation to PT (where PT is available and appropriate), prior to gaining accreditation. This can be accomplished by enrolment in suitable PT programs in a timely manner to ensure that the completion of accreditation process is not delayed. Such PT programs shall be appropriate for the type and volume of work undertaken.
For your proficiency testing needs, we coordinate proficiency testing activities for microbiological testing in water and the different food matrices. Currently, we are trying to expand our PT program to chemical testing.
ORDER FORM
2023 Proficiency Testing Program Schedules – Microbiology
| PT Round Order Code |
Enrollment Close Date |
Sample Dispatch Date |
Sample Type | Samples/Preparation | Available Test | |
| 23MIS-01 | 21-Nov-22 | 12-Dec-22 | Simulated Liquid |
Sample Count: 3 Format: Freeze-dried vial Test 1 vial each month Preparation: Reconstitute to obtain 100 mL |
Count (cfu/g and cfu/cm2): Plate Count, E. coli, Coliforms Detection (/25g): Salmonella spp, E. coli O157 |
|
| 23CSPm1 | 21-Nov-22 | 12-Dec-22 | Simulated Liquid | Sample Count: 1 Format: Freeze-dried vial Selected round from water CSP Preparation: Reconstitute to obtain 1000mL | Dispatched with MIS-01 sample set | |
| Food Pathogens | ||||||
| 23FP1 | 09-Jan-23 | 30-Jan-23 | Breakfast Foods | Sample Count: 3 Format: 130g Real food Preparation: NONE Test as received |
Count (cfu/g): Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium spp, Coagulase positive Staphylococcus spp, Enterococcus spp, Listeria monocytogenes Detection (/25g): E. coli O157, Listeria |
|
| 23FP1 | 27-Mar-23 | 17-Apr-23 | Sample Count:3 Format: 130g Real food Preparation: NONE Test as received | Count (cfu/g): Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium spp, Coagulase positive Staphylococcus spp, Enterococcus spp, Listeria monocytogenes Detection (/25g): E. coli O157, Listeria | ||
| 23FP3 | 07-Aug-23 | 28-Aug-23 | Starches | Sample Count: 3 Format: 130g Real food Preparation: NONE Test as received | Count (cfu/g): Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium spp, Coagulase positive Staphylococcus spp, Enterococcus spp, Listeria monocytogenes Detection (/25g): E. coli O157, Listeria | |
| 23FP4 | 02-Oct-23 | 23-Oct-23 | Traditional and Festive Foods | Sample Count: 3 Format: 130g Real food Preparation: NONE Test as received | Count (cfu/g): Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium spp, Coagulase positive Staphylococcus spp, Enterococcus spp, Listeria monocytogenes Detection (/25g): E. coli O157, Listeria | |
| Food Non-Pathogens | ||||||
| 23NP1 | 09-Jan-23 | 30-Jan-23 | Beverage Ingredients | Sample Count: 3 Format: 25g Real food Preparation: NONE Test as received | Count (cfu/g): Plate Count and Anaerobic count, Bacillus cereus, e. coli, Enterobacteriaceae, Lactic acid bascteria, Mould, Coliforms, Thermotolerant (faecal) Coliforms, Yeast | |
| 23NP2 | 27-Mar-23 | 17-Apr-23 | Soups | Sample Count: 3 Format: 25g Real food Preparation: NONE Test as received | Count (cfu/g): Plate Count and Anaerobic count, Bacillus cereus, e. coli, Enterobacteriaceae, Lactic acid bascteria, Mould, Coliforms, Thermotolerant (faecal) Coliforms, Yeast | |
| 23NP3 | 07-Aug-23 | 28-Aug-23 | Infant Formula | Sample Count: 3 Format: 25g Real food Preparation: NONE Test as received | Count (cfu/g): Plate Count and Anaerobic count, Bacillus cereus, e. coli, Enterobacteriaceae, Lactic acid bascteria, Mould, Coliforms, Thermotolerant (faecal) Coliforms, Yeast | |
| 23NP4 | 02-Oct-23 | 23-Oct-23 | Traditional and Festive Foods | Sample Count: 3 Format: 25g Real food Preparation: NONE Test as received | Count (cfu/g): Plate Count and Anaerobic count, Bacillus cereus, e. coli, Enterobacteriaceae, Lactic acid bascteria, Mould, Coliforms, Thermotolerant (faecal) Coliforms, Yeast | |
| Specialist Food Matrices | ||||||
| 23CH1 | 27-Mar-23 | Chocolate block | Sample Count: 3 Format: 40g Real food Preparation: NONE Test as received | Count (cfu/g): Plate Count, Coliforms, Enterobacteriaceae, Mould, Yeast Detection (/0.1g): E. coli, (/25g): Salmonella spp | ||
| 23MM1 | 17-Apr-23 | 08-May-23 | Beef mince | Sample Count: 2 Format: real mince Preparation: Rehydrate to obtain 40 g | Count (cfu/g): Plate count , E. coli, Coagulase positive Staphulococcus spp, Lactic acid bacteria Detection (/25g): Salmonella spp | |
| 23MM2 | 23-Oct-23 | 13-Nov-23 | Beef mince | Sample Count: 2 Format: real mince Preparation: Rehydrate to obtain 40 g | Count (cfu/g): Anaerobic sulfite reducing bacteria, H2S producing bacteria, Psychrotrophic bacteria (SPC at 15 deg C), Yeast, Mould, Pseudomonas aeruginosa Detection (/25g): Listeria monocytogenes | |
| 23SF1 | 13-Mar-23 | 03-Apr-23 | Seafood paste | Sample Count: 2 Format: real seafood plus vial Preparation: Rehydrate to obtain 40 g | Detection (/0.1g): E. coli Detection (/250g): Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus | |
| 23SF2 | 21-Aug-23 | 11-Sep-23 | Seafood paste | Sample Count: 2 Format: real seafood plus vial Preparation: Rehydrate to obtain 40 g | Count (cfu/g): Total bacteria, coliform, E. coli, Coagulase positive Staphylococcus sp, Anaerobic sulfite reducing bacteria, H2S producing bacteria | |
| Carcass | ||||||
| 23MIS-02 | 15-May-23 | 12-Jun-23 | Simulated Liquid | Sample Count: 6 Format: Freeze-dried vial Test 1 vial each month Preparation: Reconstitute to obtain 100 mL | Count (cfu/g and cfu/cm2): Plate Count, E.coli, Coliforms Detection (/2g): Salmonella spp, E. coli O157 | |
| 23CSPm2 | 15-May-23 | 12-Jun-23 | Simulated Liquid | Sample Count: 1 Format: Freeze-dried vial Selected round from water CSP Preparation: Reconstitute to obtain 1000mL | Dispatched with MIS-01 sample set | |
| “Big 6” E.coli | ||||||
| 23MX1 | 30-Jan-23 | 20-Feb-23 | (non-pathogenic format) | Sample Count: 3 X 2 Format: Freeze-dried vial Preparation: Reconstitute prior to testing | “Big 6”, E. coli detection and identification O26, O45, O103, O0111, O0121, O0145 and O157 Detection of eae and stx genes | |
| 23MX2 | 31-Jul-23 | 21-Aug-23 | (non-pathogenic format) | Sample Count: 3 X 2 Format: Freeze-dried vial Preparation: Reconstitute prior to testing | “Big 6”, E. coli detection and identification O26, O45, O103, O0111, O0121, O0145 and O157 Detection of eae and stx genes | |
| Extension Microbiology | ||||||
| 23XN1 | 14-Aug-23 | 04-Sep-23 | Milk Powder | Sample Count: 3 Format: 25g milk powder Preparation: NONE Test as received | Count (cfu/g): Enterobacteriaceae, Aerobic and Anaerobic Mesophilic and Thermophilic spores, Total Anaerobic Detection (/10g): Cronobacter sakazakil | |
| 23XP1 | 10-Apr-23 | 01-May-23 | Simulated Sample | Sample Count: 3 Format: Freeze-dried vial Preparation: Reconstitute priot to testing | Detection (/25g): Campylobacter spp, Vibrio spp, Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Salmonella spp, Yersinia spp and Yersinia enterocolitica. Coounts/g: V. parahaemolyticus annd Campylobacter spp, Identification to species level of detected targets. | |
| 23XP2 | 28-Aug-23 | 18-Sep-23 | Simulated Sample | Sample Count: 3 Format: Freeze-dried vial Preparation: Reconstitute priot to testing | Detection (/25g): Campylobacter spp, Vibrio spp, Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Salmonella spp, Yersinia spp and Yersinia enterocolitica. Coounts/g: V. parahaemolyticus annd Campylobacter spp, Identification to species level of detected targets. | |
| Food Factory Hygiene (Swabs) | ||||||
| 23SW1 | 20-Feb-23 | 13-Mar-23 | Swabs (General Hygiene Checks) | Sample Count: 2 Format: 3 swabs each Minor rehydration required | Count (/swab): Plate count, Anaerobic Count, Mould, Yeast | |
| 23SW2 | 19-Jun-23 | 10-Jul-23 | Swabs (Gram Negative Organisms) | Sample Count: 2 Format: 3 swabs each Minor rehydration required | Count (/swab): Coliforms, Enterobacteriaceae Detection (/swab): Campylobater spp, E. coli, Salmonella spp | |
| 23SW3 | 16-Oct-23 | 06-Nov-23 | Swabs (Gram Positive Organisms) | Sample Count: 2 Format: 3 swabs each Minor rehydration required | Detection (/swab): Listeria monocytogenes, Coagulase positive Staphylococcus spp, Clostridium spp | |
| Potable Water and Beverages | ||||||
| 23CSP-01 | 20-Mar-23 | 10-Apr-23 | Simulated beverages and clean drinking water | Sample Count: 6 Format: Freeze-dried vial Test 1 vial each month Preparation: Reconstitute to obtain 1000 mL | Count (cfu/mL): Plate count 21˚C, Plate count 37˚C Count (cfu/100 mL): Coliforms, Clostridium spp, (vegetative), Enterococcus spp, Thermotolerant (faecal) Coliforms, E. coli, Ps. Aeruginosa, Pseudomonas spp, Yeast, Mould, Faecal, Streptococcus spp, Coagulase positive | |
| 23CSP-02 | 18-Sep-23 | 09-Oct-23 | Simulated beverages and clean drinking water | Sample Count: 6 Format: Freeze-dried vial Test 1 vial each month Preparation: Reconstitute to obtain 1000 mL | Count (cfu/mL): Plate count 21˚C, Plate count 37˚C Count (cfu/100 mL): Coliforms, Clostridium spp, (vegetative), Enterococcus spp, Thermotolerant (faecal) Coliforms, E. coli, Ps. Aeruginosa, Pseudomonas spp, Yeast, Mould, Faecal, Streptococcus spp, Coagulase positive | |
| Environmental Water | ||||||
| 23EW-01 | 20-Mar-23 | 10-Apr-23 | Simulated Environmental Water | Sample Count: 2 x 2 Format: Freeze-dried vial Test each set in indicate month Preparation: Reconstituted to obtain 100 mL | Count (cfu/mL): Plate count 21˚C, Plate count 37˚C Count (cfu/100mL): Coliforms, Enterococcus spp. E. coli, Ps. Aeruginosa, Yeast, Mould, Thermotolerant (faecal), Coliforms | |
| 23EW-02 | 18-Sep-23 | 09-Oct-23 | Simulated Environmental Water | Sample Count: 2 x 2 Format: Freeze-dried vial Test each set in indicate month Preparation: Reconstituted to obtain 100 mL | Count (cfu/mL): Plate count 21˚C, Plate count 37˚C Count (cfu/100mL): Coliforms, Enterococcus spp. E. coli, Ps. Aeruginosa, Yeast, Mould, Thermotolerant (faecal), Coliforms. | |
| 23SL1 | 11-Sep-23 | 02-Oct-23 | Sludge | Sample Count: 3 Format: sludge Minor rehydration required to provde 50g sludge | Detection (/25 g): Salmonella Count (cfu/g): E. coli, Enterococcus spp, Plate Count | |
| 23LG1 | 06-Feb-23 | 27-Feb-23 | Simulated Sample | Sample count: 3 Format: Freeze-dried vial Preparation: Reconstitute to obtain 100 mL | Count (cfu/mL): Plate count 21˚C, Plate count 37˚C Legionella pneumophila (SG1, SG2-14), Total Legionella pneumophlia, Legionella spp, Total Legionella | |
| 23LG2 | 12-Jun-23 | 03-Jul-23 | Simulated Sample | Sample count: 3 Format: Freeze-dried vial Preparation: Reconstitute to obtain 100 mL | Count (cfu/mL): Plate count 21˚C, Plate count 37˚C Legionella pneumophila (SG1, SG2-14), Total Legionella pneumophlia, Legionella spp, Total Legionella | |
| 23LG2s (filtration) | 12-Jun-23 | 03-Jul-23 | Simulated Sample | Sample count: 3 Format: Freeze-dried vial Preparation: Reconstitute to obtain 2500 mL | Count (cfu/1000 mL): Legionella pneumophlia, Legionella species, Total Legionella, species and serogroup identification of targets | |
| 23LG3 | 25-Sep-23 | 16-Oct-23 | Simulated Sample | Sample count: 3 Format: Freeze-dried vial Preparation: Reconstitute to obtain 100 mL | Count (cfu/mL): Plate count 21˚C, Plate count 37˚C Legionella pneumophila (SG1, SG2-14), Total Legionella pneumophlia, Legionella spp, Total Legionella | |
| Phamarceutical, Surgical and Cosmetics | ||||||
| 23ST1 | 24-Apr-23 | 15-May-23 | Solid materials e.g., dressings | Sample Count: 3 Preparation: NONE Test as received | Commercial Sterility (Without enrichment) It is expected participants ensure the samples are free from | |
| 23SH1 | 27-Feb-23 | 20-Mar-23 | Lotion | Sample Count: 3 Format: Lotion and vial Preparation: Combine lotion and vial prior to testing | Count (cfu/g): Plate Count, Mould, Yeast, Detection (/10g, and 1g): Candida albicans, Coagulase positive Staphylococcus spp, E. coli, Ps. Aeruginosa | |
| 23PH1 | 29-May-23 | 19-Jun-23 | Herbal tea | Sample Count: 3 Format: 130g herbal tea Preparation: NONE Test as received | Count (cfu/g): Plate count 37˚C, Yeast, Mould Detection (10g and /1g): E. coli, Salmonella spp, Coagulase positive Staphylococcus spp, Clostridium perfringens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa | |
| 23PH3 | 04-Sep-23 | 25-Sep-23 | Capsules/Unpressed Tablet | Sample Count: 3 Format: 130g capsules and unpressed tablet Preparation: NONE Test as received | Count (cfu/g): Plate count 37˚C, Yeast, Mould Detection (10g and /1g): Candida albicans, E. coli, Ps. Aeruginosa, Pseudeomononas spp, Salmonella spp, Coagulase positive Staphylococcus spp, Gram negative bacteria (bile tolerant)’ | |
| Veterinary Microbiology | ||||||
| 23VMS-01 | 21-Nov-22 | 12-Dec-22 | Simulated Sample | Sample Count: 6 Format: Freeze-dried vial Test 1 vial each month Preparation: Reconstitute prior to testing. | Antibiotic Sensitivity, Organism Identification, Biochemical tests | |
| 23VMS-02 | 05-Jun-23 | 26-Jun-23 | Simulated Sample | Sample Count: 6 Format: Freeze-dried vial Test 1 vial each month Preparation: Reconstitute prior to testing. | Antibiotic Sensitivity, Organism Identification, Biochemical tests | |
NOTE: Please highlight the program you are interested to join for 2023 Proficiency Testing for Microbiology.