Appendix B

Volumes 1-3
November 2006

Health products and food branch Ottawa

Appendix B - collection and transportation of samples:
applicable to all methods in the compendium of analytical methods

Microbiological Methods Committee
Microbiology Evaluation Division
Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Food Directorate,
Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada
Postal Locator: 2204A1
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0L2

E-mail: Don_Warburton@hc-sc.gc.ca

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1. Application

The following information is applicable to all methods that detect bacteria in food, food ingredients and environmental samples and should be used with these methods. The purpose of this revised Appendix is to provide additional information and replaces Appendix B, dated January 1993.

2. Collection and transportation of samples

• 2.1. A sample, consisting of a specified number of sample units (usually between 5 and 60) drawn at random from each lot, shall be taken.
• 2.2. Each sample unit shall consist of at least 100 mL or g, unless stipulated in the method or requested in the specific commodity sampling plan.
• 2.3. Collect original unopened container wherever possible.
• 2.4. If the product is in bulk, several sample units can be collected from one container, while ensuring that the total number of sample units are not collected from one container. More than one sample unit may also be collected from large institutional or bulk containers when the total number of sample units required exceeds the number of containers in the lot. Place the collected sample units in sterile containers. A sample unit will consist of more than one container when the lot consists of containers smaller than the minimum requested size (often 100 mL or g), for example four 25 mL or g containers in each sample unit.
• 2.5. Employ aseptic techniques in collecting the sample units.
• 2.6. Keep the sample unit refrigerated or frozen, depending on the nature of the product, during transport. Shelf stable products may be transported at room temperature. Fresh fruits and vegetables are often sold at ambient temperatures in public markets, however they should be sent at refrigeration temperatures to keep the microflora as close as possible to the "state" of the sample presented to the consumer at the time of purchase (avoiding overgrowth of mesophiles that may hinder the detection of the targeted pathogen)
• 2.7. Do not allow sample units, that are usually frozen, to thaw during shipment. If frozen products do thaw, do not re-freeze, but analyze immediately if the products arrive at a suitable temperature, for example between 0 and 7°C.