“ Your lab is one of the few certified to run Naturxan Aquasta analyses in Europe. The reference sample analysis will now be part
of the procedure. This will promote your excellent analytical service at the highest level ”
- ADM Specialty Ingredients
Analytical quality and inter-laboratory ring tests
The Nutrition Analytical Service (NAS), as part of the Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, currently operates to the ISO 17025 standard for analytical laboratories. The NAS is committed to developing a quality assurance system that meets the requirements of BS EN ISO/IEC 17025:2000 and to achieving accreditation for a defined scope from the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS).
To expediate this process we have appointed T & S International Training and Consultancy Partnership as ISO/UKAS consultants with the following proposed timetable for achieving formal accreditation;
- Review of all quality documentation is in progress.
- Auditor training of NAS staff completed by September 2011.
- Application for UKAS accreditation in the first or second quarter of 2012.
- Grant of accreditation by the last quarter of 2012.
To maintain and improve our analytical performance the NAS takes part in a number of inter-laboratory ring tests on an annual basis. These include the Skretting ring test which until 2011 was organised by the Skretting Aquaculture Research Centre in Stavanger, Norway.This ring test is now organised by Masterlab Analytical Services BV and compares laboratory performance in 20 analytical methods used routinely in the fish feed, oil, fish producing and food technology sectors. The test is conducted annually and includes more than 30 labs worldwide. Copies of the comprehensive report are available on request. The NAS also participate in the DSM/Roche ring test for carotenoid pigments. This involves inter-laboratory analysis of feed and diet premix samples prepared by DSM Food Specialities and distributed to over 40 participating analytical laboratories worldwide. Copies of the DSM reports are available on request.
The Nutrition Group has developed analytical methods for the analysis of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) including dioxins, furans, PCBs and polybrominated diethyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants. Since 2005 we have participated in the ring test organised by the Norwegian Institute for Public Health for dioxins, PCBs and PBDEs which compares our analytical performance with 100 labs worldwide. Copies of this report are available on request.
In 2008 NAS undertook ring tests of the organic pigment sources Phaffia/Ecotone™ (ADM) and Panaferd (Nippon Oil Corporation) and is currently validated by both for the analysis of these carotenoid pigments. NAS has also taken part in the lipid ring test organised by the European Lipid Federation (DGF) since 2007.
Our performance in this series of ring tests confirms that the analytical performance of the NAS is as good, or in most cases superior, to laboratories conducting similar analytical techniques around the globe.