Salmonella Testing
Until January 2007 the great majority of samples submitted by poultry clients to Crowshall Veterinary Services had been submitted for testing using rappaport and selenite methods as described by The Poultry Breeding Flocks and Hatcheries Order 1993. Crowshall Veterinary Services had UKAS accreditation for testing using these methods.
In January 2007 The Poultry Flocks and Hatcheries Order 2007 superseded The Poultry Breeding Flocks and Hatcheries Order 1993 and although samples have been submitted and tested in accordance with this new order UKAS accreditation for the MSRV method described in this order was not in place at Crowshall Veterinary Services in 2007 and early 2008.
As of February 2008 a further change in legislation took place. The Control Of Salmonella In Poultry Order 2007 superseded The Poultry Breeding Flocks and Hatcheries Order 2007. This legislation includes the National Control Programme for Salmonella in commercial chicken flocks as well as those breeding flocks described in The Poultry Breeding Flocks and Hatcheries Order 2007. The Control of Salmonella in Poultry Order 2007 indicates the use of the MSRV method.
On the 22nd February 2008 Crowshall Veterinary Services received notice of an extension to the scope using the MSRV method for Salmonella detection. This change now means that a significant proportion of the samples processed and reported by Crowshall Veterinary Services will be tested in accordance with ISO17025.
Consequently all samples submitted for testing under The Control of Salmonella in Poultry Order 2007 will be tested using the MSRV method. All other samples will be tested using the Rappaport and Selenite methods. This ensures that samples submitted can be tested under the Poultry Health Scheme and also the Control of Salmonella in Poultry Order 2007.
Some modifications to our methodology have also been made to ensure that samples can be compliant with the BEIC Lion Code testing arrangements and also Assured Chicken Production.
Click here for a copy of the Crowshall Veterinary Service UKAS Accreditation Certificate.
When submitting samples it is important that they are taken in the correct way and also that the correct sampling materials are used. Once samples have been taken they must be sent to the laboratory and reach us within 24 hours and at the very latest 48 hours. Samples arriving after 48 hours from sampling can still be processed but will not be UKAS ISO17025 compliant.
If samples are to be submitted by post then these must be packaged in accordance with Post Office regulations and ideally sent by recorded next day delivery with the correct postage value.
Please find attached below some useful guides to sample taking and some relevant submission forms:
Layer Sector- Commercial Flocks
Non Lion Code
Lion Code
- Click here for a guide to Lion Code sampling in rear
- Click here for a guide to Lion Code sampling in lay- cage layers
- Click here for a guide to Lion Code sampling in lay- free range/organic layers
Submission Forms
Non Lion Code
Lion Code
- Click here for a submission form for Lion Code sampling in lay
- Click here for a sampling check list for your flock (free range layers- LION CODE)