Please use this as a reference of the available analyses and analysis variations within the NQAC Dublin MEARS form. The variations are listed in table format followed by descriptions explaining the differences. MEARS ANALYSIS & VARIATION SELECTION GUIDE Nestlé Quality Assurance Center · [email protected]· 614.526.5200 · NQACDublin.com
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Please use this as a reference of the available analyses and analysis variations within the NQAC Dublin MEARS form. The variations are listed
in table format followed by descriptions explaining the differences.
PN enumeration of Enterobacteriaceae applied when low numbers of Enterobacteriaceae (< 3 cfu/g) are expected. Options for presence absence results are also available providing a qualitative result.
LI-00.713 Salmonella Isolation- For plates/slants
Salmonella identification for known Salmonella cultures. This is for samples that have already tested pre-sumptive for Salmonella and confirmation is requested from NQAC Dublin. Please follow the appropriate guidelines for shipping known pathogen cultures.
Routine (CFU/g) - DEFAULT Chocolates, powders, infant/children snack products, etc.
Routine (CFU/mL) Liquids requiring direct plating only.
Routine (CFU/g) - DEFAULT Chocolates, powders, infant/children snack products, etc.
Routine (CFU/mL) Liquids requiring direct plating only.
Enumeration of bacterial spores in raw materials, line and finished product samples.
ISO-7937:2004 Clostridium perfringens
Enumeration of Clostridium perfringens (also known as C. perf).
ISO-7932:2004 Enumeration of Presumptive Bacillus cereus
Enumeration of Bacillus cereus (also known as B. cereus). Results are reported as “presumptive” since the method does not provide a complete confirmation of B. cereus.
LI-00.731 Lactic Acid Bacteria
Enumeration of Lactic Acid Bacteria.
LI-00.736 Contaminating Flora Count (Pour Plate)
Enumeration of contaminating microorganisms with sugar free agar for probiotic products.
There are no variations for this analysis.
Aerobic Mesophillic Spores (CFU/g) - 10 min 80°C/72h @ 30°C-DEFAULT
Dry Products.
Aerobic Mesophillic Spores (CFU/g) - 10 min 80°C/48h @ 42°C-DEFAULT
Enumeration of Coliforms and E.coli using Coliform Count petrifilm (incubation temp of 30C) or coliform/E.coli petrifilm (incubation temp of 37C).
LI-00.759 Salmonella iQ-Check
Qualitative Salmonella screen using PCR technology. The following weights are available for testing as well as a per swab variation for environmental swabs. Confirmation of presumptive screens will be provided by LI-00.713. Only select variations labeled for high dilutions if the dilution verification for your specific product has been confirmed at NQAC Dublin.
Coliform and E. coli (CFU/g) - DE- Default for most products requiring BOTH Coliform and E. coli testing
E. coli Only (CFU/g) - DEFAULT Default for E. coli only testing tested at 37C.
Coliform Only (CFU/g) - DEFAULT Default for Coliform only testing tested at 30C.
Coliform and E. coli Swab Environmental swabs requiring BOTH Coliform and E. coli testing
E. coli Only Swab Environmental swabs E. coli only testing tested at 37C.
Coliform Only Swab Environmental swabs Coliform only testing tested at 30C.
Coliform and E. coli (CFU/mL) Liquids requiring direct plating for BOTH Coliform and E. coli testing
E. coli Only (CFU/mL) Liquids requiring direct plating for E. coli only testing tested at 37C.
Coliform Only (CFU/mL) Liquids requiring direct plating for Coliform only testing tested at
Qualitative Salmonella screen using VIDAS technology. The following weights are available for testing as well as a per swab variation for environmental swabs. Confirmation of presumptive screens will be provided by LI-00.713. Only select variations labeled for high dilutions if the dilution verification for your specific product has been confirmed at NQAC Dublin.
LI-00.743 Cronobacter @ 300g
Qualitative screening for Cronobacter. The only available variation through MEARS is per 300 grams. Please contact NQAC Dublin if an alternative weight is required for testing.
ISO-6888:2003 Staph – MPN
MPN enumeration of coagulase positive Staphylococci applied when low numbers of Staphylococci (< 3 cfu/g) are expected.
LI-00.763-3 Staph – Petrifilm
Enumeration of coagulase positive Staphylococci using a Petrifilm media.
Quantitative enumeration of Listeria. Enumeration of Listeria monocytogenes will always be provided if found regardless of the variation selected.
LI-00.757 Enterobacteriaceae - Pour Plate
Enumeration of Enterobacteriaceae using pour plate media. This is selected rather than LI-00.758 for prod-ucts with strong coloring as it will interfere with Petrifilm testing. A presumptive result will be provided un-less confirmed results are necessary, typically only during a second examination. Confirmed variations will add an additional 4-5 days to the turnaround time.
LI-00.758 Enterobacteriaceae – Petrifilm
Enumeration of Enterobacteriaceae using petrifilm. A presumptive result will be provided unless confirmed results are necessary, typically only during a second examination. Confirmed variations will add an addi-tional 4-5 days to the turnaround time. Note: Some matrices such as pepperoni or certain spices can inter-fere with petrfilm at lower dilution, in such cases LI-00.757 is recommended.
Listeria Genus (All) All Listeria species counts will be reported.
L. monocytogenes (L_MONO) No other species except L. mono will be reported.
Presumptive Routine (CFU/g) - DEFAULT
Cocoa, dark or strong colored products (interferes with Petrifilm), paints, dyes, coatings.
Presumptive Routine (CFU/mL)
Liquids requiring direct plating only and environmental waters.
Confirmed Routine (2nd Ex-amination ONLY - CFU/g)
As above with confirmation. Longer TAT (4-5 days extra).
Confirmed Routine (2nd Ex-amination ONLY - CFU/mL)
As above with confirmation. Longer TAT (4-5 days extra).
Presumptive Routine (CFU/g) - DEFAULT
Default for most products.
Presumptive Environmental - DEFAULT SWAB
Environmental swabs only.
Presumptive Routine (CFU/mL)
Liquids requiring direct plating only.
Confirmed Routine (2nd Ex-amination ONLY - CFU/g)
As above with confirmation. Longer TAT (4-5 days extra).
Confirmed Environmental (2nd Examination ONLY)
As above with confirmation. Longer TAT (4-5 days extra).
Confirmed Routine (2nd Ex-amination ONLY - CFU/mL)
As above with confirmation. Longer TAT (4-5 days extra).
Qualitative Listeria screen using the VIDAS LPT technology that can screen for L.mono (LI-00.705 FS for full speciation) or L. Species (LI-00.705 for genus only). Testing run time is shorter than Listeria VIDAS and re-sults can be expected in the evening (5-11pm) of day 2, compared to end of business on day 3. The following weights are available for testing as well as a per swab variation for environmental swabs. If higher testing weight is needed, multiple replicates will need to be requested. Confirmation of presumptive screens will be provided by ISO-11290-1.
NQA-CFIA-MFHPB-29 - Canadian Listeria method
Qualitative Listeria screen using VIDAS technology following the MFHPB-29 method. This should only be
used when Canadian requirements are set in the specifications.
Qualitative E. coli O157:H7 screen using BAX® PCR technology. The following weights are available for test-ing as well as a per swab variation for environmental swabs.
Osmo Mold and Yeast (CFU/g)
Default for most products requiring BOTH mold and yeast testing.
Osmo Mold (CFU/g) - DE-FAULT
Default for most products requiring only mold testing.
Osmo Yeast (CFU/g) - DE-FAULT
Default for most products requiring only yeast testing.
Osmo Mold and Yeast (CFU/mL)
Liquids requiring direct plating only for BOTH mold and yeast testing.
Osmo Mold (CFU/mL) Liquids requiring direct plating only for mold testing.
Osmo Yeast (CFU/mL) Liquids requiring direct plating only for yeast testing.
Osmo Mold and Yeast (CFU/swab)
Environmental swab for BOTH mold and yeast testing.
Osmo Mold (CFU/swab) Environmental swab for mold.
Osmo Yeast (CFU/swab) Environmental swab for yeast testing.