What is ISO 16140‑6-Alternate method validation for microbiology in the food chain about?
ISO 16140 discusses method validation in microbiology of the food chain.
ISO 16140‑6 is an international standard that establishes technical rules for the validation of proprietary methods for the microbiology of the food chain.
ISO 16140‑6 is the sixth part of a multi-part series that specifies the general principle and the technical protocol for the alternative method validation for microbiology in the food chain.
ISO 16140‑6 compares the result of the alternative confirmation method against the confirmation procedure of a reference method or, if needed, a reference confirmation method. ISO 16140‑6 applies to bacteria and fungi. Some of the clauses can be applied to the other microorganisms, to be determined on a case-to-case basis.
Who is ISO 16140‑6-Alternate method validation for microbiology in the food chain for?
ISO 16140‑6 on alternate method validation for microbiology in the food chain is relevant to:
- Food technologists
- Food scientists
- Food laboratories
- Microbiologists
- Food health and safety departments
- Expert laboratories involved in method validation
Why should you use ISO 16140‑6-Alternate method validation for microbiology in the food chain?
Two stages are involved before a method can be used in a laboratory. The first stage is the validation of the method and the second stage is method verification, where a laboratory demonstrates that it can satisfactorily perform a validated method.
Two types of methods are distinguished in a laboratory: reference methods and alternative methods.
ISO 16140‑6 provides you with protocols to analyze the validation of alternative confirmation methods for isolated microorganisms in products intended for human consumption, products intended for human consumption, products intended for animal feeding, environmental samples in the area of food and feed production, handling and samples from the primary production stage.
The principles and protocols specified by ISO 16140‑6 assist you in a validation study in which the alternative confirmation method is compared to the confirmation procedure described in the reference method for the enumeration or detection of specific microorganisms enabling you to make an informed choice on the adoption of a particular method.
