• Results of laboratory tests on food, water and environmental samples impact on people's health
• Reporting incorrect results may cause people to become ill
• Reporting incorrect results may have extremely expensive consequences
• Agency food and water EQA schemes aim to educate and emphasise the impact of incorrect results.

The Health Protection Agency recognises the importance of the role of food, water and environmental microbiology laboratories and provides a range of internationally renowned EQA/PT schemes

EQA/PT samples are provided through our distributors in the following countries: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden ( EQA/PT sample Distributors )

Documents and downloads   

Scheme descriptions (brochure) / Scheme Summary / Registration Form / Scheme Guide / Guide to scoring / Log10 Conversion Table / FAQs / Newsletter / Terms and Conditions / Steering Group Remit / Conference / Presentations / UKAS Certificate / CRM information

Which is the right scheme for your laboratory?

Find out more about all our schemes.

Standard Scheme

Laboratories that routinely test for a range of food-borne pathogens and indicator organisms.

Participants are often private laboratories that test foods for clients in the food industry who may submit products routinely for microbial assessment, end product testing and customer complaints.

Extended Scheme

Laboratories investigating causes of food-poisoning and outbreaks of food-borne illness.

Participants are often public health laboratories.

Food Law Scheme  

Laboratories that examine foods for compliance with Regulation (EC) 2073/2005, amended by (EC)1441/2007.

The scheme assesses participants' ability to test and interpret laboratory results in accordance with EU food safety and process hygiene criteria.

Shellfish Scheme

Laboratories testing raw live bivalve molluscs from harvesting beds for classification or end product testing.
Participants include all EU National Reference Laboratories responsible for testing live bivalve molluscs.

Non-Pathogen Scheme

Laboratories on production sites that do not want to introduce pathogens.

Participants are mainly laboratories that enumerate indicator and spoilage micro-organisms.

Pathogenic Vibrio Scheme

Laboratories examining food samples for Vibrio spp.

Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin (SET) Detection Scheme  

Laboratories that test food for Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin (SET) using a range of kits.

Participants culture the Staphylococcus aureus from the sample vials then test for enterotoxin production.

Legionella Isolation Scheme

Laboratories that examine waters for Legionella spp.

The scheme includes samples containing a range of different serogroups of Legionella pneumophila, and Legionella spp. other than L.pneumophila.

Drinking Water Scheme 

Laboratories that routinely monitor drinking water, examining for low levels of indicator organisms.

Surface Water Scheme 

Laboratories that routinely monitor bathing beach, bathing pool and river, lake and stream waters for indicator organisms

Endoscope Rinse Water Scheme

Desc of endo scheme

Bottled and Mineral Water Scheme

Desc of water scheme

Bespoke Schemes

Schemes designed to meet your own company requirements

• Legionella Scheme Instructions (PDF, 563 KB)
  Added/updated: 28 October 2011
  
• EQA/PT sample Distributors
  Added/updated: 26 January 2012
  
• Shellfish Scheme Instructions (PDF, 461 KB)
  Added/updated: 28 October 2011