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25190 - Nutritional Components in Corn/Maize Based Snack Food
We've introduced this new multi-analyte for nutritional components in snack food. With 6 analytes covering frequently tested parameters, including pH, titratable acidity, total sugars and MSG, it is suitable for all labs conducting routine testing on this type of material.

Dispatch: 6th November 2020

22177 - Mycotoxins in Wheat Flour
We've added aflatoxins B and G and total aflatoxins to this popular multi-mycotoxin material to give even better value for our customers. Also includes DON, ZON and T-2 and HT-2 toxins.

Dispatch: 11th November 2020

04401 - Aflatoxins in Peanut Butter
Aflatoxins in nuts are a potential significant health risk. The toxins are not removed by processing, with the potential that contaminated peanut butter may be the result if affected peanuts are not prevented from entering the production process. The test material can be analysed for aflatoxins B and G or total aflatoxins.

Dispatch: 24th November 2020

We are committed to maintaining our service and quality to you through the current difficult times and are doing all we can to provide you with the PT you need to help maintain your high standards, whilst protecting the health of our staff. Dispatch and sample preparation teams are working to the recommended safe distance and procedures and all administrative functions are working from home as much as is practically possible. Please take care and stay safe.

Please take a few minutes to provide us with feedback about the services you receive from Fapas^? by completing our 2021 Customer Satisfaction Survey.

Please answer all the questions and provide any extra comments in the relevant boxes. We value your opinion and endeavour to meet your testing requirements in this continually changing analytical world. Fapas^? will review your answers with the aim of improving our products and services where possible.

In our recent customer survey.
...nearly 25% of respondents stated that they were not aware that they can enter multiple results for proficiency tests in the Fapas? portal. This feature allows you to enter multiple results for the same analyte, and receive z scores in the charting feature of the portal. So multiple analysts can take part and receive z scores, or results from different methods or analysers could be entered. Take a look at our guide on how to report multiple results by clicking below:

Please remember that not everyone in your lab will receive Fapas? emails, so please pass this to your colleagues who may not be aware of this feature. Also check out the other features we have available to make your life easier.

Easy Re-order.
Easy Re-order can save you lots of time when placing your orders for proficiency tests, quality control samples and reference materials. It is really easy to use and pre-populates your current order from a previous order placed. If an exact match is not available, such items will be listed with links to our web shop, so you can search for a similar product. For a refresher on how to use Easy Re-order, click the link below to download our simple guide.

Charting results.
The charting tool on the Fapas? portal allows you to plot your PT results almost any way you want, and you can export the data to a csv file for you to import into Excel. The export feature is also a great way to summarise all your z scores from a particular report in one place, for easy future reference, without having to review each table and search for your laboratory number. Take a look at our guide on the new charting features by clicking below:

LG0110/1/2 - Legionella spp. In Environmental Water

Due to circumstances beyond our control, relating to the steps taken to safeguard our staff and wider business during the recent period of lockdown and social distancing, it was necessary to cancel the first round of the Legionella spp. proficiency test which should have dispatched on 13th May 2020. Fortunately there are still three rounds you can participate in during the rest of the year:

LG0110 Dispatching 15th July 2020
LG0111 Dispatching 7th October 2020
LG0112 Dispatching 2nd December 2020

We are committed to maintaining our service and quality to you through the current difficult times and are doing all we can to provide you with the PT you need to help maintain your high standards, whilst protecting the health of our staff. Dispatch and sample preparation teams are working to the recommended safe distance and procedures and all administrative functions are working from home as much as is practically possible. Please take care and stay safe.

E.coli O157:H7 Detection on Sponge Swab

M255d11 Dispatch July 20th 2020
(sponge swab; non-toxigenic strain)

M255d11 - E.coli O157:H7 Detection On Sponge Swab

We have enhanced our range of environmental swab tests with the addition of this sponge swab for the detection of E.coli O157:H7. This important pathogen is, like Salmonella spp. and Listeria spp., capable of surviving in the environment for extended periods particularly in cool damp areas such as drains. For information about this and our other swab tests, please click the link below.

We are committed to maintaining our service and quality to you through the current difficult times and are doing all we can to provide you with the PT you need to help maintain your high standards, whilst protecting the health of our staff. Dispatch and sample preparation teams are working to the recommended safe distance and procedures and all administrative functions are working from home as much as is practically possible. Please take care and stay safe.

Indicator Organisms in Milk Powder

M256e24 Dispatch August 24th 2020

M256e24 - Indicator Organisms in Milk Powder

We have enhanced our range of multi-analyte microbiology tests with the addition of aerobic plate count to our existing tests for indicator organisms in milk powder. This material can now be analysed for APC, as well as the enumeration of Enterobacteriaceae, Coliforms and E.coli.

Dispatch: 24 August 2020

We are committed to maintaining our service and quality to you through the current difficult times and are doing all we can to provide you with the PT you need to help maintain your high standards, whilst protecting the health of our staff. Dispatch and sample preparation teams are working to the recommended safe distance and procedures and all administrative functions are working from home as much as is practically possible. Please take care and stay safe.

Revalidation - the importance of
quality control materials

If your laboratory has a period of closure during the coronavirus pandemic...

...your accreditation body may expect to see some revalidation of methods, equipment and analysts when you reopen, before you start to report analytical data to your customers. This is especially important if equipment has been shut down for any period. Any revalidation exercise should include some sort of external quality assurance assessment to provide independent information on performance. Fapas? has a comprehensive range of quality control materials, available immediately, which provide a cost effective means of achieving a revalidation exercise.

We are committed to maintaining our service and quality to you through the current difficult times and are doing all we can to provide you with the PT you need to help maintain your high standards, whilst protecting the health of our staff. Dispatch and sample preparation teams are working to the recommended safe distance and procedures and all administrative functions are working from home as much as is practically possible. Please take care and stay safe.

Getting the most out of your Fapas^? participation
? Easy Re-order

07374 - Heavy Metals in Dried Mixed Herbs

Heavy metals are strictly controlled in foods due to their inherent toxicity, and the levels can be concentrated in dried ingredients such as mixed herbs and similar. As with all plant material grown in soil, herbs can become contaminated due to the natural levels of heavy metals in a soil, or as a result of historical pollution of the environment. Our material is for analysis of cadmium, lead and nickel at natural (low) contamination levels.

Dispatch: 13 August 2020

25187 - Nutritional Components in Infant Formula

We've expanded our range of infant formula PTs to include analysis for nutritional components. This PT complements the existing material for nutritional elements in infant formula. Nine analytes are available to test in this material, including moisture, ash, total fat, sodium and chloride. For full details please click the link below.

Dispatch: 20 August 2020

19295 - Pesticides in Vine Leaves

Like many commercially farmed crops, grapes and grapevines may be treated with various pesticides and fungicides to prevent significant damage to the crop and economic losses for the farmers. Residues of these crop-protection products may remain when the leaves are harvested and brined for use in food production. Our PT test for identification and quantification of pesticides in vine leaf pur?e expands our range of vegetables available to test for pesticides.

Dispatch: 10 August 2020