Q Laboratories, Inc. Approved as MicroVal Expert Laboratory

Cincinnati-based testing laboratory Q Laboratories, Inc. has been approved as the first North American-based MicroVal Expert Laboratory.
    
MicroVal is a European certification organization for the validation and approval of alternative methods for the microbiological analysis of foods, animal feeding stuffs, beverages and food environmental samples (water, sponges, swabs, etc.). MicroVal validates and certifies alternative methods in order to show that they perform as well as internationally standardized methods, such as FDA, USDA, ISO and ASTM methods.  MicroVal certification of alternative methods will ensure their acceptance by governmental inspection laboratories and laboratories in the food industry, throughout Europe, thus facilitating commerce within the European Union. MicroVal Expert Laboratories perform comparative studies in order to validate the alternative methods as statistically comparable to the established method(s).
    
MicroVal reached an agreement in 2009 with US-based AOAC International to allow manufacturers wanting to gain MicroVal/AOAC approval/certification simultaneously to develop protocols sufficient to both organizations. Subsequently, both decided to combine a MicroVal certificate (basis EN ISO 16140) with an AOAC approval (Official Methods of Analysis and/or Performance Tested Methods).  Q Laboratories, Inc. is already approved by AOAC and has performed dozens of AOAC studies and can now perform studies for manufacturers to provide dual MicroVal/AOAC approval.            
           
“As the first approved MicroVal Expert Laboratory in the Western Hemisphere, Q Laboratories can now provide North and South American manufacturers with a laboratory in this region of the world to perform combined MicroVal/AOAC studies, allowing companies to market their products in both Europe and the United States. We look forward to providing a resource for companies to attain simultaneous approval from both organizations,” stated David G. Goins, President of Q Laboratories, Inc.