IEH Warren Analytical can now test for almond, egg, Gliadin (found in wheat, rye, and barley), hazelnut, milk, peanut, and soy allergens. Our labs use sandwich ELISAs (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays) which compare product extracts against the specific allergen standard, resulting in highly precise and accurate estimates of the level of allergen in the food (if present in detectable amounts). Our analysts are trained under ISO 17025 accredited methods, and utilize standard quality control techniques such as multiple blanks, duplicate samples, and spiked recovery samples to help ensure reliable results for these important tests. Standard turnaround times are guaranteed at 8-10 days, while priority results can be expedited for your critical test results.
Testing Service Contract
On June 24, 2005, the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Inspection Service (APHIS) awarded a service contract
to Warren Analytical Laboratories (WAL) to provide microbiological and fat testing and analysis services to USDA contractors and
subcontractors in support of the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) school lunch meat purchase programs. One of only two laboratories
to receive these contracts, Warren Analytical Laboratories met or surpassed strict USDA APHIS requirements to offer AOAC approved tests at a
facility certified as meeting ISO 17025 quality standards.
Warren Analytical Laboratory has earned ISO/IEC (International Organization of Standardization and International Electrotechnical Commission) 17025 accreditation through A2LA (American Association for Laboratory Accreditation) - the highest such accreditation for laboratories. This accreditation serves as a formal recognition of the laboratory's technical competence. Fewer than 30 food industry laboratories have currently achieved ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation for food chemistry and food microbiology, according to the American Association of Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA). Through a number of mutual recognition arrangements, A2LA accreditation is recognized around the world. "This puts us among some select company," Aaronson said. "We work on a global level, and A2LA ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation gives our customers a measure of comfort that our data can be accepted with the highest degree of confidence."
Warren Analytical Laboratory now offers an objective method for the detection of risk materials derived from CNS (Central Nervous System) tissue in raw and processed meats, meat products, and on surfaces (machines or utensils). Since 1996, scientific evidence has shown a link between BSE and nvCJD. The predominant carrier of infectious material is tissue of the Central Nervous System (i.e. brain and spinal cord). In the interests of preventive consumer protection, it is important that the usage of these particular animal tissues, that may contain accumulated concentrations of infectious material, be excluded from the human food chain. The presence of CNS tissue can be monitored in the form of final product control.
By using molecular sub-typing techniques, the likely sources of specific bacterial contamination can be identified. Bacteria can be "DNA-fingerprinted" using the Riboprinter™or Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) to distinguish between isolates at the genetic level. For example, the same bacterial species isolated from different sources will be indistinguishable using standard microbiological techniques, but molecular sub-typing might show them to be unrelated at the genetic level. Tracing related isolates through a manufacturing process can help to identify the source(s) of contamination, so that the most effective corrective actions can be taken. Molecular sub-typing can also eliminate a potential contamination source by showing that isolates from different products or environments are unrelated. Both PFGE and Riboprinting offer their own unique strengths depending on what your situation requires.
The strengths of each application are as follows: Riboprinter™: Excels at Listeria differentiation; also suitable for Lactic Acid Bacteria and Salmonella sp. PFGE: This is the standard method used by the CDC and the current "Gold Standard" of molecular sub-typing. Excellent for both E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella differentiation.