CCFRA has recently been awarded expert laboratory status by AFNOR, a major EU method validation scheme. Dr R Betts, Head of Microbiology comments; "The food industry can have confidence in kits validated by AFNOR, as the validation has to conform to BS EN ISO 16140. As an expert laboratory, we are charged with implementing the validation to these exacting standards. This includes comparing the performance of the kit with the established reference method, eg, performance of kits for Salmonella would be compared with ENISO 6579. The expert lab also has to organise ring trials to see how the kit performs across different laboratories testing the same samples, & submit the findings for consideration by AFNOR. The kit is granted a validation certificate only when it meets all the relevant criteria, & has to be revalidated every 4 years." Contact: r.betts@campden.co.uk
