NMA has learned that statisticians are currently reviewing data from the joint collaboration by USDA/FSIS and Kansas State University (KSU) to evaluate the recovery of Biotype I generic E.coli testing using sponge-sampling methodology.
KSU scientists visited FSIS laboratories recently and jointly performed tests of sponge sampling for Biotype I generic E.coli. These are the tests that slaughterers are required to conduct pursuant to the July 25, 1996 Final Rule published by FSIS. KSU scientists claimed, in a trade magazine story earlier this summer, that the FSIS protocol resulted in poor recovery of Biotype I generic E.coli.
During the laboratory collaboration, the FSIS buffer method recovered more bacteria than the KSU method, When they investigated the reasons, it appeared that improper preparation of buffer and/or multi-stomaching may have contributed to the KSU findings. The KSU method "stomached" the sponges (a form of blending the sponges and the buffer) too long, thereby possibly causing increased destruction of the bacteria. Upon further investigation, it appears that the KSU scientists were using buffer formulation recipes that they received from FDA, rather than from FSIS. The exact cause of the difference in results is still being investigated.
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