Proficiency Testing Schemes

Planning

Test Veritas s.r.l. plans  the proficiency testing scheme and gives a prior notice of the programme on this web site; there are several test materials and a time schedule is presented.

Preparation of proficiency test items

Test Veritas s.r.l. produces and distributes test materials in its own laboratory.

In case the proficiency testing schemes distinguish between the participation with confirmatory methods and screening methods, the item code will be identified with letter A and B correspondly: letter A in the sample code corresponds to an amount suitable for confirmatory analysis, letter B corresponds to an amount suitable for screening analysis. In most cases, test materials are incurred, sometimes are spiked. Homogeneity and stability studies are carried out and are always available under request.

Analyses

The participant laboratories use their own test method for analysing the provided test materials. Afterwards, within a deadline, they submitt the results back to Test Veritas through a dedicated restricted web-platform.

Report

The performance participant assessment in the proficiency testing is provided with a clear and comprehensive Final Report, which includes all participants’ results, their evaluations and the statistical criteria used.

Confidentiality  of Results

The identity of partecipants is confidential: after submitting their results, every participating laboratory receives a code that identifies him in the Final Report.  The laboratory code is available only inside the participant web account.

Only with specifical authorization from the participant, the Progetto Trieste Secretariat will disclose all or part of the results/evaluation to third parties.

In conformity with ISO/IEC 17043:2010 (point 4.10.4), in exceptional circumstances, when a regualry authority requires proficiency testing results to be directly provided to the authority by the proficiency testing provider, the affected participants shall be notified of this action in writing.

The participants’ list will be published in the Final Report.

The laboratory that participates to the Progetto Trieste – Proficiency Testing Schemes undertakes to keep its result secret and to do not share it with other laboratories before the Final Report is issued.

Complaints and appeals policy

Detailed complaints and appeals have to be forwarded  to info@progettotrieste.com within 30 days after the pubblication of the Final Report.

The proficiency testing Progetto Trieste allows:

Analyses laboratories

• to check their own performances
• to compare their own performances to those of the other international laboratories
• to choose the most accurate method
• to demonstrate their competence to other interested parties

Analyses laboratory customers

• to verify which laboratories are good performing

Diagnostic manufacturers

• to improve their products (kits, instruments, purification columns, etc.)
• for product certification

Which advantages are gained when choosing Test Veritas as proficiency testing provider?

• Experience for more than 20 years
• Internationalization: customers from all over the world participate to Progetto Trieste
• ISO 17043:2010 accredited provider
• Separate evaluation data for screening and confirmatory methods
• Test materials are mainly incurred
• Mainly  multi-contamined materials are provided
• Often  2 materials with different concentration are provided
• Efficient customer care

On basis of which criteria the test materials “A” or “B” should be chosen? Choose “A” if you use  a confirmatory method (i.e.  HPLC or GC). Choose “B” if you use the screening method (ELISA, RIA, biosensors, microbiological tests, lateral flow, etc.).

Is it possible to analyse the test material “B” by a confirmatory method? Yes, but the material could be insufficient. Furthermore, your participation could become a participation of type “A”.

Is it possible to analyse the test material “A” by a screening method?  Yes, but your results will not be included in the confirmatory results/evaluation data but in the screening results/evaluation data.

Can I participate to a proficiency testing, but not to all the proficiency testing scheduled in that round? Yes, you will subscribe only the proficiency testing of your interest.

Can I participate to a proficiency testing, but searching only some of the molecules under study (not the entire list)? Yes, but you have to consider that you could find a negative sample if the test material is contaminated with the molecules you don’t search; in that case, the proficiency testing will allow to check the specificity of your method.

Can I order more amount of material than the one indicated in the programme? Yes, it is possible to order additional material at a  reduced price. Laboratories that order additional material will receive double quantity of material. Additional materials will be sold only in combination with Test Materials. They do not allow to take part into the PT.

Can I give more than one result for the same test material? You can, but just in the case you realize it through more than one subscription for the same test material (warning: to buy additional material does not allow you to submitt an additional result). If only one subscription is bought, only one result will be accepted. In some promotions it could be included the possibility of submitting 2 different results for a single participation subscription.

Why do you provide so many test lyophilized materials? Our Test Material are lyophilized (to be tested after reconstitution), in order to guarantee the stability of the Test Materials, even for long shipment. In this way, regardless of the provenience of the laboratory, every participant can be sure to receive the exact same Test Material as the others. Furthermore, the consensus of participants is more reliable.

Should I submit my results refering to the lyophilized sample? No, the test materials are provided lyophilized (see reason in the above FAQ), but have to be reconstituted for the analysis. Therefore the results should be referred to the materials after reconstitution.

How many participants have the PT? The number of participants changes from one PT to another. There are some PTs with more than 60 participants an other with 15. The PT will take place if at least 15 labs have been subscribed for participating with a confirmatory method.

Evaluation criteria for Histamine and Veterinary Drug Residues, Edited February 2024

Evaluation criteria for Mycotoxins and Process Contaminants, Edited June 2024

Evaluation criteria for Pesticides, Edited February 2024

Evaluation criteria for Metals and Additives, Edited February 2024

 

Progetto Trieste-Proficiency Testing Schemes have been UNI CEI EN ISO/IEC 17043:2010 accredited by ACCREDIA. The accreditation certifies that Progetto Trieste meets the requirements of the standard EN ISO/IEC 17043:2010 “Conformity assessment- General requirements for proficiency testing”.

ACCREDIA confirms, following successful completion of the verification activities carried out, the concession to Test Veritas of the Accreditation as a proficiency testing provider for the schemes reported in the Attachment to the Accreditation Certificate that may be carried out by the accredited office of Test Veritas Srl (Trieste , Italy); the ACCREDIA convention can be viewed on request.

 

You could download the certificate and the accredited scheme list.

“Detail schemes within the scope of accreditation UNI CEI EN ISO / IEC 17043 issued by ACCREDIA, as attached rev. 10 to the accreditation certificate. PTP n. 0008 P “:

rev 13 of 02/08/2024

Scheme  identity code: Progetto Trieste – Mycotoxins

– Proficiency test field: chemical researches

– Type of the scheme: quantitative and qualitative simultaneous scheme

– Analytes: mycotoxins

Manufactured material, matrix to submit to test	Matrices in details	Analytes in details
Food for human consumption	grain/cereals	aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2), fumonisins (B1 e B2), zearalenone, deoxynivalenol (DON), ochratoxin A
	coffee (grinded beans), cocoa (grinded beans)	ochratoxin A
	dried fruit (nuts)	aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2)
	spices	aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2), ochratoxin A
	milk and diary products	aflatoxin M1
animal feed	animal feed	aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2)
drink	fruit juice	patulin

 

Scheme identity code: Progetto Trieste – Veterinary Drug Residues

– Proficiency test field: chemical researches

– Type of the scheme: quantitative and qualitative simultaneous scheme

– Analytes: veterinary drug residues (chloramphenicol, sulphonamides, tetracyclines, quinolones and fluoroquinolones, metabolites of nitrofurans and nitrofurans, synthetic steroids, RAL, stilbenes, beta-agonists and ractopamine, corticosteroids, streptomycin, avermectins).

Manufactured material, matrix to submit to test	Matrices in details	Analytes in details
Food for human consumption	eggs	chloramphenicol, sulphonamides (sulfamethazine, sulfadimethoxine, sulfaquinoxaline, sulfamerazine, sulfadiazine, sulfametoxypyridazine, sulfamonometoxine, sulfathiazol).
	muscle (mammal, poultry, seafood)	chloramphenicol, sulphonamides (sulfamethazine, sulfadimethoxine, sulfamerazine, sulfadiazine, sulfametoxypyridazine, sulfamonometoxine, sulfathiazol), nitrofuran metabolites (AOZ, AMOZ, SEM), tetracyclines (oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, doxycycline, tetracycline), quinolones and fluoroquinolones (enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, flumequine, danofloxacin, oxolinic acid, norfloxacin).
	liver	corticosteroids (dexamethasone, betamethasone, flumethasone, prednisolone), beta-agonists (clenbuterol, salbutamol, terbutaline) and ractopamine.
	honey	chloramphenicol, sulphonamides (sulfamethazine, sulfadimethoxine, sulfamerazine, sulfadiazine, sulfametoxypyridazine, sulfamonometoxine, sulfathiazol), tetracyclines (oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, doxycycline, tetracycline), streptomycin (streptomycin, dihydrostreptomycin).
	milk	chloramphenicol, sulphonamides (sulfamethazine, sulfadimethoxine, sulfaquinoxaline, sulfamerazine, sulfadiazine, sulfametoxypyridazine, sulfamonometoxine, sulfathiazol), tetracyclines (oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, doxycycline, tetracycline), quinolones and fluoroquinolones (enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, flumequine, danofloxacin, oxolinic acid, norfloxacin), avermectins (eprinomectin, abamectin).
animal excreta	urine	synthetic steroids (17alfa-19nortestosterone, 17beta-19nortestosterone, 17alfa-boldenone,17beta-boldenone, 17alfa-trenbolone, 17beta-trenbolone ), RAL (zeranol, taleranol), stilbenes (diethylstilbestrol (cis-DES and trans-DES), hexestrol, dienestrol), corticosteroids (dexamethasone, betamethasone, flumethasone, prednisolone), beta-agonists (clenbuterol, salbutamol, terbutaline) and ractopamine.

 

Scheme identity code: Progetto Trieste – Histamine

– Proficiency test field: chemical researches

– Type of the scheme: quantitative and qualitative simultaneous scheme

– Manufactured material, matrix to submit to test: Seafood

– Matrices in details: fish

– Analyte: histamine

 

Scheme  identity code: Progetto Trieste – Pesticide Residues

– Proficiency test field: chemical researches

– Type of the scheme: quantitative simultaneous scheme

– Analytes: pesticides

Manufactured material, matrix to submit to test	Matrices in details	Analytes in details
fruit and vegetables	tomato, lettuce, spinachs, rocket (rucola)	acefate, atrazina, boscalid, cipermetrina, cis-clordano, clorpirifos metile, dicrotofos, diuron, fenexamide, iprodione, lambda-cialotrina, linuron, oxicarboxin, ometoato, pirimetanil, pencicuron, procimidone, tiabendazolo, triadimenolo, vinclozolin
	apple

 

Scheme  identity code: Progetto Trieste – Metals

– Proficiency test field: chemical researches

– Type of the scheme: quantitative simultaneous scheme

– Matrices in details: food for human consumption

– Analytes: metals 

Manufactured material, matrix to submit to test	Matrices in details	Analytes in details
food for human consumption	muscle (mammal, poultry, seafood)	lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic
	liver	lead, cadmium, mercury
	tomato, lettuce, spinach, rocket (rucola)	lead, cadmium, mercury

Scheme  identity code: Progetto Trieste – Additives

– Proficiency test field: chemical researches

– Type of the scheme: quantitative simultaneous scheme

– Matrices in details: food for human consumption

– Analytes: additives

Manufactured material, matrix to submit to test	Matrices in details	Analytes in details
food for human consumption	tomato, lettuce, spinach, rocket (rucola)	sodium nitrate, NO3 (ionic form)

Scheme  identity code: Progetto Trieste –  Processing Contaminants

– Proficiency test field: chemical researches

– Type of the scheme: quantitative simultaneous scheme

– Analytes: processing contaminants

 

Manufactured material, matrix to submit to test	Matrices in details	Analytes in details
food for human consumption	potato chips	acrylamide

Accreditation excludes, in any case, ACCREDIA from any responsibility regarding the offered service.

Previous accredited scheme lists:

accredited scheme rev.1

accredited scheme rev.2

accredited scheme rev.3

accredited scheme rev.4

accredited scheme rev.5

accredited schemes rev.6

accredited schemes rev.7

accredited schemes rev.8

accredited schemes rev. 9

accredited schemes rev. 10

For each round it is prepared a  Final Report, that contains all the statisticals elaborations of the results of each partecipant and related evaluation, furthermore collects all the information about the analytical method used by each participant.

It is an interesting tool of study to compare performance among analytical methods.

Each participant receives the Final Report, not only for the test materials that has analyzed, but for all the test materials scheduled in the corresponding round.

The file of the Final Report is provided free of charge to participants. A hard copy is available by payment under request.

Final Report could be bought by third parties that has not participated in the round.

Please view some examples of  Final Reports, that show the reported contents : Mycotoxins and Acrylamide Final Report (example 1, example 2), Veterinary Drug Residues Final Report (example 3, example 4), Histamine & Other Freshness Final Report (example 5), Pesticide Residues Final Report (example 6) and Metals and Additives Final Report (example 7).

Progetto Trieste – Proficiency Testing Schemes provides, among others, lyophilized PT test materials, in which some water has been removed in order to obtain greater stability during the shipment.

The sample has to be rehydrated before analysis following Progetto Trieste instructions. Those instructions have been provided with the materials and anticipated by email.

We have prepared some videos for supporting the instructions.

These videos show the procedure for reconstituting the lyophilized PT test materials.

WARNING: Do not follow your procedure for lyophilized samples.

After the reconstitution test materials have to be considered as non-lyophilized samples. For example, in case you have received lyophilized egg, after the reconstitution you have to analyse the samples using your analytical method for eggs and not for lyophilized eggs.

We hope that these videos can be a useful tool.

FOR  A GOOD VISION USE THE FIREFOX BROWSER. Video for the reconstitution of URINE test materials: urine Video for the reconstitution of EGG test materials: egg Video for the reconstitution of MUSCLE test materials: muscle Video for the reconstitution of MILK test materials: milk Video for the reconstitution of MILK with Aflatoxin M1 test materials: milk M1 Video for the reconstitution of FISH AND SHRIMPS test materials: fish and shrimps Video for the reconstitution of TUNA test materials: tuna Video for the reconstitution of SPINACH and ROCKET SALAD test materials: spinach and rocket Video for the reconstitution of LIVER test materials: liver

In case of difficulty, please contact us at info@progettotrieste.com.