food safety
APHL, AAFCO Improve Quality in Animal Feed Testing Laboratories
by Robyn Randolph, specialist, Food Laboratory Accreditation
Since 2012, APHL has been working with partner organizations through a US Food and Drug Administration( FDA) cooperative agreement to build an integrated laboratory system to advance the safety of food and animal feed. In particular, this cooperative agreement has the added benefit of strengthening APHL’ s relationship with the Association of American Feed Control Officials( AAFCO). APHL and AAFCO are actively working together to create guidance and improve the quality systems in feed testing laboratories.
Focused on animal feed, AAFCO works with regulatory stakeholders to establish model bills, regulations and policy related to feed safety, quality and effectiveness. APHL’ s work with AAFCO is spearheaded by Nancy Thiex, an AAFCO consultant with over three decades of experience in analytical science and laboratory management. With Thiex’ s expertise and a cadre of APHL members, the associations have worked together to create several products focused on quality improvement that are of great benefit to animal feed testing laboratories.
GOODSamples
Released in October 2015, GOODSamples( Guidance on Obtaining Defensible Samples) is a guidance document that outlines a scientific and systematic approach to sampling so that the analytical data generated is both representative and defensible. Through cooperative agreement funding, six sampling trainings / workshops and three sampling pilot events based on GOODSamples principles have been held throughout the country.
Proficiency Testing Program
Proficiency testing is a crucial part of maintaining quality in the laboratory. AAFCO ' s Proficiency Testing Program( PTP), now compliant with ISO 17043, has been expanded to support laboratories testing feeds, feed ingredients and pet foods with four unique proficiency testing schemes that provide performance assessment for laboratory test results.
Quality Assurance / Quality Control( QA / QC) Guidelines
The QA / QC Guidelines were published in 2014 as a supplement for feed testing laboratories operating in compliance with ISO 17025:2005. The Guidelines can be used to design and implement a quality management system that meets the needs of their laboratory and regulatory program. The Guidelines can be utilized to improve laboratory operations in areas such as:
• Traceability, including documentation of chemicals, reagents and solutions, which allows materials to be traced to a specific certificate of analysis or lot number.
• Internal audits, both formal and informal( peer audits) is a preventative approach that allows the laboratory to identify non-conformances more quickly— and before an external auditor identifies them.
• Management review, which brings consistency in communications between operations and administrators as successes, non-conformances and improvements are well documented.
In recognition of Thiex’ s efforts on these cooperative agreement projects and more, she was awarded the 2016 APHL“ On the Front Line” Award for her significant contributions to the advancement of public health science and practice and building consensus on the issue of food and feed sampling. Thiex continues to be a valuable collaborator and partner for APHL and its members.
A fully integrated food safety system acknowledges the interconnectedness of human health to animal health. Many APHL member laboratories that perform animal feed testing are working to improve quality through ISO accreditation, and a strengthened relationship with AAFCO allows for members’ needs to be more clearly voiced.
A fully integrated food safety system acknowledges the interconnectedness of human health to animal health.
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LAB MATTERS TERS Winter 2017 |
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