Phone No.
(780) 450-3957
One of the most common questions food manufacturers ask is:
“What pathogen testing do we need?”
The answer depends on:
There is no single testing panel that applies to every food product.
Effective food pathogen testing programs are risk-based and designed around the specific hazards associated with a product and manufacturing environment.
PBR Laboratories provides food pathogen testing, environmental monitoring, food microbiology testing, and food safety support throughout Alberta, Western Canada, and Canada.
Food pathogen testing is performed to determine whether specific disease-causing microorganisms are present in a food product, ingredient, environmental sample, or processing environment.
Unlike indicator organism testing, pathogen testing targets specific organisms known to present food safety risks.
Examples include:
Food manufacturers commonly use pathogen testing to support:
Testing requirements depend on:
Rather than asking: "Is testing required?"
Manufacturers should ask: "What hazards are reasonably likely to occur in my product?"
That question drives testing decisions.
One of the most frequently tested foodborne pathogens.
Commonly associated with:
Typical Reporting Format: Detected or Not Detected
Frequently included in programs involving:
Typical Reporting Format: Detected or Not Detected
Often used within environmental monitoring programs. Testing may help identify contamination risks before products become affected.
Commonly included in:
Typical Reporting Format: Detected or Not Detected
Many food safety programs evaluate both:
To provide broader verification coverage.
Frequently evaluated in:
Typically reported as: Colony Forming Units per Gram (CFU/g). Learn more: Understanding Bacillus cereus Results
Commonly evaluated in:
Often used during: Process Validation, Cooling Verification. Learn more: Understanding Clostridium perfringens Results
Frequently associated with:
Commonly associated with:
Typically associated with:
Manufacturers often confuse these categories.
Examples:
Purpose: Determine whether specific pathogens are present.
Examples:
Purpose: Evaluate sanitation effectiveness and process control.
Both types of testing are important but answer different questions.
Testing should be based on risk.
Factors include:
Common testing may include:
Common testing may include:
Common testing may include:
Pathogen testing should support decision-making, not simply report results.
Using The Same Testing Program For Every Product
Different products present different risks.
Ignoring Environmental Monitoring
Environmental data often identifies issues earlier.
Testing Without A Risk Assessment
Testing should support specific objectives.
Focusing Only On Finished Product Testing
Environmental and process verification data are equally important.
Treating Pathogen Testing As A Standalone Program
Testing should support broader food safety systems.
Food pathogen testing helps manufacturers:
The objective is not simply detecting pathogens.
The objective is reducing risk and supporting informed decisions.
PBR Laboratories provides food pathogen testing, environmental monitoring, food microbiology testing, raw pet food testing, meat testing, poultry testing, and food safety support throughout Alberta, Western Canada, and Canada.
Contact PBR to discuss pathogen testing requirements, environmental monitoring programs, food safety objectives, and risk-based testing strategies.
Choose PBR – Because Precision Matters, Defining Excellence in Laboratory Services Since 1984.