According to a report, only one laboratory got a top score as part of a Campylobacter testing exercise, suggesting there is room for improvement.
In 2018, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) commissioned the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to provide an external quality assessment (EQA) scheme for the detection and enumeration of Campylobacter from a simulated matrix representing uncooked chicken.
It was available to 20 laboratories in the UK that provided an accredited test for Campylobacter in foods. At the time, there was no reliable test to identify the pathogen.
The EQA ran from March 2019 to November 2021, due to COVID-19 disruption. A total of 39 samples were sent; 26 for enumerating the levels of Campylobacter, if detected, and 13 for detection of the organism.
An EQA provides labs with an independent external assessment of their performance. Regular participation is part of quality procedures and helps to ensure that results of tests are accurate. It also gives assurance for clients.
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