Microbial Challenge Studies Overview Webinar

February 24, 2022, 1:00 PM EST 

Challenge studies are a valuable way to determine whether a specific food requires time-temperature controls for safety or is suitably formulated.  Various challenge studies such as shelf life, process, product, growth, and inactivation studies can be used to do this.  This webinar will discuss the reasons and needs for the different types of studies, and when best to perform each kind.

Key learning objectives:

• Knowing why and when a Challenge Study is necessary
• Differences between a Shelf life study and a Challenge study
• Different types of challenge studies and what type is best for different situations
• How we perform Challenge studies at NQAC

Target Audience:

• Food Product developers
• Factory or Laboratory Quality Technicians and Specialists

Course Length: 1 hour 

Instructors: Edith Zambrana-Santos, Sr. Microbiologist and Ryan Hartpence, Sr. Microbiologist, NQAC Dublin

Veterinary Drug Testing in Food: Analytical Approaches, Challenges, and Pitfalls

OnDemand – Watch this webinar anytime!

Laboratory testing can offer critical information and peace of mind regarding the safety and compliance of your food, but the limits of testing can be overlooked or misinterpreted. Understanding how the test works and what the reported results tell you (and what they don’t) is an important step in identifying any blind spots that could lead to a false sense of security. Choosing the appropriate test, asking the right questions, and interpreting the report will help ensure the testing meets the needs of your business.

This webinar discusses the advantages and disadvantages of different analytical approaches for veterinary drugs in food and what the laboratory can and cannot assure you from the test result.

Key Learnings/Takeaways:

• Technologies used in veterinary drug testing and what they bring to the table
• Quantitative versus qualitative results
• The importance of test validation for the food being tested
• What questions to ask the laboratory to ensure the results will meet your needs

Audience:  Laboratory staff, Quality managers

Instructor:  Andrew Savage, Chemistry Operations Supervisor, NQAC Dublin