Reference Materials for Norovirus and Hepatitis A Virus for Food and Water Microbiology

Reference materials (RM) are important elements of quality control in microbiological testing.  In partnership with CEFAS, HPA provides RMs for norovirus (genogroups I and II) and hepatitis A virus.

The RM’s were developed in parallel with the draft standard - Microbiology of Food and Animal Feed: Detection of Norovirus and Hepatitis A virus in Foodstuffs - Part 1: Quantitative Determination,  and Part 2: Qualitative Determination which was developed by the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN).

Reference values:  

The RMs are supplied with a certificate of analysis which gives reference values.  These values are generated using a real time qRT-PCR using CEFAS’ ISO 17025 accredited procedures for virus quantification and are based upon the draft CEN standard. 

For certificates go to:

Norovirus GI certificate - NORO-GI/F07-01/052-12 (PDF, 63 KB)

Norovirus GII certificate - NORO-GII/F05-04/322-11 (PDF, 54 KB)

Hepatitis A certificate - HAV/H08-05/356-11 (PDF, 59 KB)

Uses for Reference Materials from your EQA partner:

These RMs can be used for:

• In-run positive extraction controls for quantitative molecular assays such as real time qRT-PCR
• Method calibration and characterisation
• Use a positive controls in semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis

For instructions for use go to:

Norovirus GI/GII and Hepatitis A virus Instruction Sheet (PDF, 117 KB)

Features of HPA/CEFAS Virus Reference Materials:

• Contain genome copies of micro-organisms
• Long term stability and statistically proven batch homogeneity
• Quality controlled by CEFAS laboratory at multiple manufacturing stages
• Additional quality control undertaken through to expiry date
  

Backed up by technical support and expertise from the HPA EQA teams

For safety data sheets go to:

Norovirus safety data sheet (PDF, 39 KB)

Hepatitis A virus safety data sheet (PDF, 39 KB)

For trouble shooting advice go to:

Trouble Shooting Advice for Virus LENTICULE discs (PDF, 53 KB)

Additional Benefits of HPA LENTICULE Discs

• Easy to use
• Saves time – no dilutions required
• One step process – removes a potential source of error
• Provide quantitative values expressed as genome copies per volume assisting in between run repeatability and greater accuracy

Reference Materials are provided through our distributors in the following countries: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden. ( Certified Reference Materials distributors )

LENTICULE discs provide a means of preserving microorganisms.  Virus LENTICULES can be prepared to contain a wide range of diverse viruses at a range of levels per LENTICULE disc.

LENTICULE is a trade mark of the HPA

For further advice please contact the HPA:

Email: foodeqa@hpa.org.uk

Tel: +44 20 8327 7119