Interlaboratory Proficiency testing: Microbiological parameters in drinking water

Interlaboratory Proficiency testing: Microbiological parameters in drinking water

Distribution Schedule 2024



Round Registration
deadline		 Despatch
samples		 Reporting
deadline		 Final Report
Round February 2024 19/01/2024 05/02/2024 01/03/2024 18/03/2024
Final Reports in the Customer Area
Round September 2024 06/09/2024 23/09/2024 18/10/2024 05/11/2024
Registration Deadline: 06/09/2024
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Scope of the Interlaboratory Proficiency Testing

The scope of this interlaboratory proficiency testing is the evaluation of the performance of laboratories for the quantitative determination of microbiological parameters in drinking water or similar matrixes (ex. mineral water, groundwater, etc.) according to standard requested.

Interlaboratory proficiency testing organized in accordance with the standard ISO/IEC 17043:2010 - Conformity assessment — General requirements for proficiency testing.

PARAMETERS

  • Total aerobic count at 22 oC (1 - 1000 UFC/mL)
  • Total aerobic count at 36 oC (1 - 1000 UFC/mL)

    • Reference method: ISO 6222:1999 or equivalent methods.


  • Enumeration of Coliform bacteria (1 - 1000 UFC/100mL)
  • Enumeration of Escherichia coli (1 - 1000 UFC/100mL)

    • Reference method: ISO 9308-1:2014 or equivalent methods.


  • Enumeration of Enterococci (1 - 1000 UFC/100mL)

    • Reference method: ISO 7899-2:2000 or equivalent methods.


  • Enumeration of Clostridium perfringens (including spores)
    (1 - 1000 UFC/100mL)

    • Reference method: ISO 14189:2013 or equivalent methods.


  • Enumeration of Coagulase Positive Staphylococci (1 - 1000 UFC/250mL)

  • Enumeration of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa (1 - 1000 UFC/250mL)

    • Reference method: ISO 16266:2006 or equivalent methods.


  • Enumeration of Legionella pneumophila (10 - 10.000 UFC/L)
  • Enumeration of Legionella spp (10 - 10.000 UFC/L)

    • Reference method: ISO 11731:2017 or equivalent methods.

NOTE - MPN RESULTS: Participants can also submit results obtained by methods based on the MPN technique. The results obtained with the MPN technique will be evaluated (z-score) using the reference value calculated from the statistical treatment of the results obtained with the UFC technique.


Proficiency test item:

The test samples are prepared by participants according to instructions of Guide Lines of the proficiency testing using vial(s) containing the microorganism(s) (CRM - ISO 17034) and Rehydration Medium ready to use sent to laboratories by express courier service. The vials are transported in isothermal containers equipped with a cold storage system (wet ice).

  • 1 x 1L of the test material for the determination of Total aerobic count at 22 oC and 36 oC.
  • 10 x 1L of the test material for the determination of Coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli.
  • 10 x 1L of the test material for the determination of Enterococci.
  • 1 x 1L of the test material for the enumeration of Clostridium perfringens (including spores).
  • 1 x 1L of the test material for the enumeration of Coagulase Positive Staphylococci.
  • 1 x 1L of the test material for the enumeration of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa.
  • 10 x 1L of the test material for the enumeration of Legionella pneumophila.
  • 10 x 1L of the test material for the enumeration of Legionella spp.

NOTE: All the details for the preparation of the final test sample are included in the Guide Lines provided with the test samples.

ADDITIONAL TEST SAMPLES: For costs and availability of additional test samples contact Qualitycheck (e-mail sales@qualitychecksrl.com)

ANALYSIS:

The analysis must be performed following the analytical procedure prescribed by the reference method (or equivalent method) required for each measurand, except for Enumeration of Coagulase Positive Staphylococci for which the participants are free to choose a suitable method according to their internal procedures (methods used for the routine samples in the laboratory).

For each measurand shall be reported one result.

ADDITIONAL RESULTS: Each participant can submit up to 5 results* for the same analyte, thus obtaining an evaluation of laboratory performance for different operators, instruments, etc. (e.g. operator 1/operator 2, instrument A/instrument B, etc..).
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    *: Only one result submitted by the laboratory will be included in the statistical treatment of data for the calculation of the Assigned Value and statistics of data of the analyte, to avoid that a single laboratory has a different statistical weight, depending on the number of its submitted results. The additional results are evaluated by assigning z-score values, using the Assigned Value and the Standard Deviation for Proficiency Assessment obtained from statistical treatment.

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