Health protection – collection

Proficiency testing for food, water and environmental microbiology

Public Health England provides proficiency testing (PT) schemes, also known as external quality assessment (EQA) schemes.

Contents

Public Health England (PHE) recognises the importance of the role of food, water and environmental microbiology laboratories and provides a range of PT schemes.

PT allows the introduction of samples of known but undisclosed content into a laboratory’s routine testing procedure.

Proficiency testing documents

1. Proficiency testing: the process and benefits

   • 10 March 2015
   • Detailed guide

2. Proficiency testing (PT) for food and water microbiology: brochures

   • 8 January 2015
   • Guidance

3. Food and water microbiology external quality assessment (EQA) schemes: schedule

   • 16 March 2016
   • Guidance

4. Proficiency testing (PT) scheme: forms and terms and conditions of participation

   • 16 March 2016
   • Guidance

5. Proficiency testing schemes: contacts and international distributors

   • 5 March 2014
   • Detailed guide

6. Food and water proficiency testing schemes: scheme guide

   • 12 January 2016
   • Guidance

7. Food and water proficiency testing schemes: scoring systems and statistics

   • 29 January 2015
   • Guidance

Online data entry and reports

Online reporting system for Public Health England’s food and water microbiology proficiency testing schemes.

Log in to the online data reporting system.

1. Online reporting for the food and water microbiology proficiency testing (PT) schemes: instruction sheet

   • 5 February 2016
   • Guidance

Bottled and mineral water scheme

This scheme is suitable for laboratories that routinely examine bottled and mineral waters for indicator organisms.

1. Bottled and mineral water scheme: sample schedule

   • 17 May 2016
   • Guidance

2. Safety data sheet for lenticules

   • 6 July 2015
   • Guidance

3. Bottled and mineral water scheme: sample instruction sheets and video

   • 10 December 2014
   • Guidance

4. Bottled and mineral water scheme: current distribution

   • 13 September 2016
   • Guidance

5. Bottled and mineral water scheme: recent intended results for distribution

   • 8 June 2016
   • Guidance

6. Bottled and mineral water scheme: recent reports

   • 23 June 2016
   • Guidance

7. Bottled and mineral water scheme: recent trend analysis

   • 21 May 2015
   • Guidance

Dialysis water scheme

This scheme is suitable for laboratories that monitor the microbial quality of water used to prepare dialysis fluid.

1. Hospital water schemes: sample schedule

   • 17 May 2016
   • Guidance

2. Safety data sheet for lenticules

   • 6 July 2015
   • Guidance

3. Dialysis water scheme: sample instruction sheets and video

   • 7 January 2015
   • Guidance

4. Dialysis water scheme: current distribution

   • 8 July 2016
   • Guidance

5. Dialysis water scheme: recent intended results for distribution

   • 2 August 2016
   • Guidance

6. Dialysis water scheme: recent reports

   • 1 September 2016
   • Guidance

7. Dialysis water scheme: recent trend analysis

   • 21 May 2015
   • Guidance

Drinking water scheme

This scheme is suitable for laboratories that routinely examine drinking water.

1. Drinking water scheme: sample schedule

   • 17 May 2016
   • Guidance

2. Safety data sheet for lenticules

   • 6 July 2015
   • Guidance

3. Drinking water scheme: sample instruction sheets and video

   • 10 December 2014
   • Guidance

4. Drinking water scheme: current distribution

   • 13 September 2016
   • Guidance

5. Drinking water scheme: recent intended results for distribution

   • 10 August 2016
   • Guidance

6. Drinking water scheme: recent reports

   • 19 August 2016
   • Guidance

7. Drinking water scheme: recent trend analysis

   • 21 May 2015
   • Guidance

Endoscope rinse water scheme

This scheme is suitable for laboratories that routinely examine endoscope rinse waters for total viable counts.

1. Hospital water schemes: sample schedule

   • 17 May 2016
   • Guidance

2. Safety data sheet for lenticules

   • 6 July 2015
   • Guidance

3. Endoscope rinse water scheme: sample instruction sheets and video

   • 10 December 2014
   • Guidance

4. Endoscope rinse water scheme: current distribution

   • 13 September 2016
   • Guidance

5. Endoscope rinse water scheme: recent intended results for distribution

   • 8 June 2016
   • Guidance

6. Endoscope rinse water scheme: recent reports

   • 14 June 2016
   • Guidance

7. Endoscope rinse water scheme: recent trend analysis

   • 21 May 2015
   • Guidance

Environmental swab scheme

This scheme is suitable for laboratories that examine swabs for hygiene indicator organisms or pathogens.

1. Environmental swab scheme: sample schedule

   • 17 May 2016
   • Guidance

2. Safety data sheet for lenticules

   • 6 July 2015
   • Guidance

3. Environmental swab scheme: sample instruction sheet

   • 25 June 2015
   • Guidance

4. Environmental swab scheme: current distribution

   • 5 August 2016
   • Guidance

5. Environmental swab scheme: recent intended results for distribution

   • 1 September 2016
   • Guidance

6. Environmental swab scheme: recent reports

   • 13 September 2016
   • Guidance

European food microbiology legislation scheme

This scheme is suitable for laboratories that examine foods for compliance with Regulation (EC) 2073/2005 as amended. The scheme assesses participants’ ability to test and interpret laboratory results in accordance with EU food safety and process hygiene criteria. .

1. European food microbiology legislation scheme: sample schedule

   • 17 May 2016
   • Guidance

2. Safety data sheet for lenticules

   • 6 July 2015
   • Guidance

3. European food microbiology legislation scheme: sample instruction sheets and video

   • 12 December 2014
   • Guidance

4. European food microbiology legislation scheme: current distribution

   • 14 June 2016
   • Guidance

5. European food microbiology legislation scheme: recent intended results for distribution

   • 12 July 2016
   • Guidance

6. European food microbiology legislation scheme: recent reports

   • 27 July 2016
   • Guidance

Hospital tap water scheme

This scheme is suitable for laboratories that examine hospital tap waters for Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

1. Hospital water schemes: sample schedule

   • 17 May 2016
   • Guidance

2. Safety data sheet for lenticules

   • 6 July 2015
   • Guidance

3. Hospital tap water scheme: sample instruction sheet and video

   • 10 December 2014
   • Guidance

4. Hospital tap water scheme: current distribution

   • 8 July 2016
   • Guidance

5. Hospital tap water scheme: recent intended results for distribution

   • 2 August 2016
   • Guidance

6. Hospital tap water scheme: recent reports

   • 19 August 2016
   • Guidance

7. Hospital tap water scheme: recent trend analysis

   • 21 May 2015
   • Guidance

Legionella isolation scheme

This scheme is suitable for laboratories that examine waters for Legionella spp.

Selected distribution challenges the detection and quantification of Legionella spp. by molecular methods.

1. Legionella scheme: sample schedule

   • 17 May 2016
   • Guidance

2. Safety data sheet for lenticules

   • 6 July 2015
   • Guidance

3. Legionella scheme: sample instruction sheets and video

   • 26 January 2016
   • Guidance

4. Legionella isolation scheme: current distribution

   • 13 September 2016
   • Guidance

5. Legionella scheme: recent intended results for distribution

   • 18 August 2016
   • Guidance

6. Legionella scheme: recent reports

   • 2 September 2016
   • Guidance

7. Legionella scheme: recent trend analysis

   • 4 June 2015
   • Guidance

Non pathogen scheme

This scheme is suitable for laboratories that enumerate indicator and spoilage micro-organisms from food samples.

1. Non-pathogen scheme: sample schedule

   • 17 May 2016
   • Guidance

2. Safety data sheet: freeze-dried food

   • 6 May 2015
   • Guidance

3. Non-pathogen scheme: sample instruction sheets and video

   • 1 August 2016
   • Guidance

4. Non-pathogen scheme: current distribution

   • 5 August 2016
   • Guidance

5. Non-pathogen scheme: recent intended results for distribution

   • 19 September 2016
   • Guidance

6. Non-pathogen scheme: recent reports

   • 13 June 2016
   • Guidance

7. Non-pathogen scheme: recent trend analysis

   • 21 May 2015
   • Guidance

Pathogenic vibrio scheme

This scheme is suitable for laboratories examining food or water samples for Vibrio spp.

1. Pathogenic vibrio scheme: sample schedule

   • 17 May 2016
   • Guidance

2. Safety data sheet: freeze-dried food

   • 6 May 2015
   • Guidance

3. Pathogenic vibrio scheme: sample instruction sheets and video

   • 30 November 2015
   • Guidance

4. Pathogenic vibrio scheme: current distribution

   • 14 June 2016
   • Guidance

5. Pathogenic vibrio scheme: recent intended results for distribution

   • 12 July 2016
   • Guidance

6. Pathogenic vibrio scheme: recent reports

   • 15 July 2016
   • Guidance

Recreational and surface water scheme

This scheme is suitable for laboratories that routinely monitor water, in rivers, lakes, streams and bathing beaches and pools, for indicator organisms.

1. Recreational and surface water scheme: sample schedule

   • 17 May 2016
   • Guidance

2. Safety data sheet for lenticules

   • 6 July 2015
   • Guidance

3. Recreational and surface water scheme: sample instruction sheets and video

   • 10 December 2014
   • Guidance

4. Recreational and surface water scheme: current distribution

   • 13 September 2016
   • Guidance

5. Recreational and surface water scheme: recent intended results for distribution

   • 10 August 2016
   • Guidance

6. Recreational and surface water scheme: recent reports

   • 19 August 2016
   • Guidance

Shellfish scheme

This scheme is suitable for laboratories testing raw live bivalve molluscs from harvesting beds for classification or end product testing.

1. Shellfish scheme: sample schedule

   • 17 May 2016
   • Guidance

2. Safety data sheet for lenticules

   • 6 July 2015
   • Guidance

3. Shellfish scheme: sample instruction sheets and video

   • 7 January 2015
   • Guidance

4. Shellfish scheme: current distribution

   • 14 June 2016
   • Guidance

5. Shellfish scheme: recent intended results for distribution

   • 12 July 2016
   • Guidance

6. Shellfish scheme: recent reports

   • 20 July 2016
   • Guidance

7. Shellfish scheme: trend analysis

   • 10 December 2015
   • Guidance

Shiga toxin Escherichia coli scheme

This scheme is suitable for laboratories that examine for Shiga toxin Escherichia coli (STEC). This scheme contains non-viable microorganisms (killed bacteria) and is only suitable for examination by molecular methods.

1. Shiga toxin Escherichia coli scheme: sample schedule

   • 16 May 2016
   • Guidance

2. Safety data sheet for lenticules

   • 6 July 2015
   • Guidance

3. Shiga toxin Escherichia coli scheme: sample instruction sheet

   • 26 January 2016
   • Guidance

4. Shiga toxin Escherichia coli scheme: current distribution

   • 14 June 2016
   • Guidance

5. Shiga toxin Escherichia coli scheme: recent intended results for distribution

   • 6 July 2016
   • Guidance

6. Shiga toxin Escherichia coli scheme: recent reports

   • 11 August 2016
   • Guidance

Standard scheme

This scheme is suitable for laboratories that routinely test for a range of food-borne pathogens and indicator organisms.

1. Standard scheme: sample schedule

   • 17 May 2016
   • Guidance

2. Safety data sheet: freeze-dried food

   • 6 May 2015
   • Guidance

3. Standard scheme: sample instruction sheets and video

   • 6 January 2015
   • Guidance

4. Standard scheme: current distribution

   • 5 August 2016
   • Guidance

5. Standard scheme: recent intended results for distribution

   • 13 September 2016
   • Guidance

6. Standard scheme: recent reports

   • 28 July 2016
   • Guidance

7. Standard scheme: recent trend analysis

   • 21 May 2015
   • Guidance

Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin (SET) detection scheme

This scheme is suitable for laboratories that test food for Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin (SET) using a range of kits. Participants culture the Staphylococcus aureus from the sample vials then test for enterotoxin production.

1. Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin (SET) detection scheme: sample schedule

   • 17 May 2016
   • Guidance

2. Safety data sheet: freeze-dried food

   • 6 May 2015
   • Guidance

3. Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin (SET) detection scheme: sample instruction sheets and video

   • 2 February 2015
   • Guidance

4. Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin (SET) detection scheme: current distribution

   • 5 August 2016
   • Guidance

5. Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin (SET) detection scheme: recent intended results for distribution

   • 6 September 2016
   • Guidance

6. Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin (SET) detection scheme: recent reports

   • 16 September 2016
   • Guidance

• Published: 31 July 2014
• Updated: 17 May 2016

+ full page history

• 17 May 2016 10:49am: Added shiga toxin escherichia coli scheme: sample schedule.
• 9 March 2016 10:53am: Added Shiga toxin Escherichia coli scheme: recent reports.
• 27 January 2016 9:37am: Added Shiga toxin Escherichia coli scheme.
• 26 October 2015 12:21pm: Added environmental swab scheme: recent reports.
• 7 July 2015 3:58pm: Added environmental swab scheme.
• 2 July 2015 4:15pm: PHE withdrew the public health PT scheme in April 2015.
• 20 March 2015 3:54pm: Added proficiency testing schemes: international distributors and collaborators.
• 27 January 2015 9:38am: Added link to online data entry system and drinking water scheme instruction sheet.
• 31 July 2014 9:00am: First published.

• From: Public Health England