Collection

Proficiency testing for food, water and environmental microbiology

• From: Public Health England
• Part of: Services
• Published: 31 July 2014
• Last updated: 1 August 2017, see all updates

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

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
   • Guidance

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

   • 8 January 2015
   • Guidance

3. Food and water proficiency testing schemes: scheme accreditation

   • 15 May 2017
   • Guidance

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

   • 6 January 2017
   • Guidance

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

   • 6 January 2017
   • Guidance

6. Proficiency testing schemes: contacts and international distributors

   • 5 March 2014
   • Guidance

7. Food and water proficiency testing schemes: scheme guide

   • 12 January 2016
   • Guidance

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

   • 25 November 2016
   • 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. Proficiency testing schemes: online reporting instruction sheets

   • 3 August 2017
   • 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

   • 3 April 2017
   • Guidance

2. Safety data sheet for lenticules

   • 13 April 2017
   • Guidance

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

   • 10 December 2014
   • Guidance

4. Bottled and mineral water scheme: current distribution

   • 12 May 2017
   • Guidance

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

   • 12 June 2017
   • Guidance

6. Bottled and mineral water scheme: recent reports

   • 15 June 2017
   • 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

   • 3 April 2017
   • Guidance

2. Safety data sheet for lenticules

   • 13 April 2017
   • Guidance

3. Dialysis water scheme: sample instruction sheets and video

   • 7 January 2015
   • Guidance

4. Dialysis water scheme: current distribution

   • 10 July 2017
   • Guidance

5. Dialysis water scheme: recent intended results for distribution

   • 2 August 2017
   • Guidance

6. Dialysis water scheme: recent reports

   • 17 August 2017
   • 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

   • 3 April 2017
   • Guidance

2. Safety data sheet for lenticules

   • 13 April 2017
   • Guidance

3. Drinking water scheme: sample instruction sheets

   • 10 December 2014
   • Guidance

4. Drinking water scheme: current distribution

   • 10 July 2017
   • Guidance

5. Drinking water scheme: recent intended results for distribution

   • 8 August 2017
   • Guidance

6. Drinking water scheme: recent reports

   • 21 August 2017
   • Guidance

7. Drinking water scheme: recent trend analysis

   • 29 June 2017
   • 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

   • 3 April 2017
   • Guidance

2. Safety data sheet for lenticules

   • 13 April 2017
   • Guidance

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

   • 10 December 2014
   • Guidance

4. Endoscope rinse water scheme: current distribution

   • 12 May 2017
   • Guidance

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

   • 12 June 2017
   • Guidance

6. Endoscope rinse water scheme: recent reports

   • 12 June 2017
   • Guidance

7. Endoscope rinse water scheme: recent trend analysis

   • 13 June 2017
   • 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

   • 28 March 2017
   • Guidance

2. Safety data sheet for lenticules

   • 13 April 2017
   • Guidance

3. Environmental swab scheme: sample instruction sheet

   • 27 July 2017
   • Guidance

4. Environmental swab scheme: current distribution

   • 3 August 2017
   • Guidance

5. Environmental swab scheme: recent intended results for distribution

   • 9 May 2017
   • Guidance

6. Environmental swab scheme: recent reports

   • 22 May 2017
   • 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

   • 28 March 2017
   • Guidance

2. Safety data sheet for lenticules

   • 13 April 2017
   • Guidance

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

   • 12 December 2014
   • Guidance

4. European food microbiology legislation scheme: current distribution

   • 13 June 2017
   • Guidance

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

   • 12 July 2017
   • Guidance

6. European food microbiology legislation scheme: recent reports

   • 28 July 2017
   • 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

   • 3 April 2017
   • Guidance

2. Safety data sheet for lenticules

   • 13 April 2017
   • Guidance

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

   • 10 December 2014
   • Guidance

4. Hospital tap water scheme: current distribution

   • 10 July 2017
   • Guidance

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

   • 2 August 2017
   • Guidance

6. Hospital tap water scheme: recent reports

   • 17 August 2017
   • 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.

1. Legionella scheme: sample schedule

   • 3 April 2017
   • Guidance

2. Safety data sheet for lenticules

   • 13 April 2017
   • Guidance

3. Legionella scheme: sample instruction sheets and video

   • 5 May 2017
   • Guidance

4. Legionella isolation scheme: current distribution

   • 10 July 2017
   • Guidance

5. Legionella scheme: recent intended results for distribution

   • 16 August 2017
   • Guidance

6. Legionella scheme: recent reports

   • 21 August 2017
   • Guidance

7. Legionella scheme: recent trend analysis

   • 29 June 2017
   • Guidance

Legionella molecular scheme

This scheme is suitable for laboratories that examine waters for Legionella spp. detection and quantification by molecular methods.

1. Legionella molecular scheme: sample schedule

   • 11 May 2017
   • Guidance

2. Safety data sheet for lenticules

   • 13 April 2017
   • Guidance

3. Legionella molecular scheme: sample instruction sheet

   • 11 May 2017
   • Guidance

4. Legionella molecular scheme: current distribution

   • 12 May 2017
   • Guidance

5. Legionella molecular scheme: recent intended results for distribution

   • 11 May 2017
   • Guidance

6. Legionella molecular scheme: recent reports

   • 11 May 2017
   • 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

   • 28 March 2017
   • Guidance

2. Safety data sheet: freeze-dried food

   • 13 April 2017
   • Guidance

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

   • 13 June 2017
   • Guidance

4. Non-pathogen scheme: current distribution

   • 3 August 2017
   • Guidance

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

   • 31 May 2017
   • Guidance

6. Non-pathogen scheme: recent reports

   • 15 June 2017
   • Guidance

7. Non-pathogen scheme: recent trend analysis

   • 21 May 2015
   • Guidance

Norovirus and hepatitis A virus scheme

This scheme is suitable for laboratories that examine food products or waters for hepatitis A virus and norovirus using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR).

1. Safety data sheet for lenticules

   • 13 April 2017
   • Guidance

2. Norovirus and hepatitis A virus scheme: sample instruction sheet

   • 31 July 2017
   • Guidance

3. Norovirus and hepatitis A virus scheme: current distribution

   • 31 July 2017
   • Guidance

4. Norovirus and hepatitis A virus scheme: recent intended results for distribution

   • 31 July 2017
   • Guidance

5. Norovirus and hepatitis A virus scheme: recent report

   • 31 July 2017
   • Guidance

Pathogenic vibrio scheme

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

1. Pathogenic vibrio scheme: sample schedule

   • 28 March 2017
   • Guidance

2. Safety data sheet: freeze-dried food

   • 13 April 2017
   • Guidance

3. Pathogenic vibrio scheme: sample instruction sheets and video

   • 30 November 2015
   • Guidance

4. Pathogenic vibrio scheme: current distribution

   • 13 June 2017
   • Guidance

5. Pathogenic vibrio scheme: recent intended results for distribution

   • 12 July 2017
   • Guidance

6. Pathogenic vibrio scheme: recent reports

   • 24 July 2017
   • 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

   • 3 April 2017
   • Guidance

2. Safety data sheet for lenticules

   • 13 April 2017
   • Guidance

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

   • 10 December 2014
   • Guidance

4. Recreational and surface water scheme: current distribution

   • 10 July 2017
   • Guidance

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

   • 8 August 2017
   • Guidance

6. Recreational and surface water scheme: recent reports

   • 21 August 2017
   • 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

   • 28 March 2017
   • Guidance

2. Safety data sheet for lenticules

   • 13 April 2017
   • Guidance

3. Shellfish scheme: sample instruction sheets and video

   • 7 January 2015
   • Guidance

4. Shellfish scheme: current distribution

   • 13 June 2017
   • Guidance

5. Shellfish scheme: recent intended results for distribution

   • 12 July 2017
   • Guidance

6. Shellfish scheme: recent reports

   • 17 July 2017
   • Guidance

7. Shellfish scheme: trend analysis

   • 5 April 2017
   • 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

   • 28 March 2017
   • Guidance

2. Safety data sheet for lenticules

   • 13 April 2017
   • Guidance

3. Shiga toxin Escherichia coli scheme: sample instruction sheet

   • 5 May 2017
   • Guidance

4. Shiga toxin Escherichia coli scheme: current distribution

   • 13 June 2017
   • Guidance

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

   • 4 July 2017
   • Guidance

6. Shiga toxin Escherichia coli scheme: recent reports

   • 1 August 2017
   • 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

   • 28 March 2017
   • Guidance

2. Safety data sheet: freeze-dried food

   • 13 April 2017
   • Guidance

3. Standard scheme: sample instruction sheets and video

   • 6 January 2015
   • Guidance

4. Standard scheme: current distribution

   • 3 August 2017
   • Guidance

5. Standard scheme: recent intended results for distribution

   • 18 July 2017
   • Guidance

6. Standard scheme: recent reports

   • 26 July 2017
   • 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

   • 28 March 2017
   • Guidance

2. Safety data sheet: freeze-dried food

   • 13 April 2017
   • 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

   • 3 August 2017
   • Guidance

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

   • 15 May 2017
   • Guidance

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

   • 22 May 2017
   • Guidance

Document information

Published: 31 July 2014

Updated: 1 August 2017

+ full page history

1. 1 August 2017 Added new 'Norovirus and hepatitis A virus scheme' subheading and related documents.
2. 15 May 2017 Added legionella molecular scheme.
3. 9 January 2017 Added food and water proficiency testing schemes: scheme accreditation.
4. 17 May 2016 Added shiga toxin escherichia coli scheme: sample schedule.
5. 9 March 2016 Added Shiga toxin Escherichia coli scheme: recent reports.
6. 27 January 2016 Added Shiga toxin Escherichia coli scheme.
7. 26 October 2015 Added environmental swab scheme: recent reports.
8. 7 July 2015 Added environmental swab scheme.
9. 2 July 2015 PHE withdrew the public health PT scheme in April 2015.
10. 20 March 2015 Added proficiency testing schemes: international distributors and collaborators.
11. 27 January 2015 Added link to online data entry system and drinking water scheme instruction sheet.
12. 31 July 2014 First published.

From: Public Health England

Part of: Services