We are a key provider of schemes for the food and feed industries, counting many of the top 20 global food businesses as customers on our routine schemes or our managed PT solutions.

Our largest scheme, food microbiology, has over 2,000 participating laboratories worldwide, enabling participants to compare their performance on a truly global scale. This and our other food schemes provide managers with a means to monitor the performance of multiple labs in wide geographies via group participation and reporting.

Categories Available:

Animal Feeds Proficiency Scheme (AFPS) is specifically designed to meet the needs of laboratories performing chemical or microbiological analysis of animal feeds. Animal feed quality is highly regulated since many animals, or their products, will ultimately be converted into food for human consumption. Major food safety crises have occurred as the result of contamination of animal feed, causing risks to animal and human health.

Chocolate (QCS)

Quality in Chocolate Scheme (QCS) is intended for chemists and microbiologists working in the chocolate and cocoa powder manufacturing industries. Chocolate products are one of the specific food commodities whose composition is controlled at European level. Directive 2000/36/EC, ‘relating to cocoa and chocolate products intended for human consumption’, sets common rules and definitions with regard to the composition, manufacture, packaging and labelling of chocolate and cocoa products.

Dairy Chemistry (QDCS)

Quality in Dairy Chemistry Scheme (QDCS) is a comprehensive proficiency testing scheme available to laboratories performing compositional and safety analysis in the dairy sector. Laboratories may test dairy products to ensure a commercial product performs within preset quality standards, or to look for adulterations or contaminants that could adversely affect a product.

Food Chemistry (QFCS)

LGC Quality in Food Chemistry Scheme (QFCS) is specifically designed to promote quality and comparability in the measurement of a range of analytes in food products. Technology now allows suppliers to harvest, preserve and distribute within a short period of time, so an incredible variety of foodstuffs are available worldwide and year-round.

Food Microbiology (QMS)

LGC Quality in Microbiology Scheme (QMS) is intended for use by microbiologists working in the food industry, including the dairy, ready meals, dried foods, herbs and spices and many other sectors. Food testing is an essential element of the ‘Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point’ (HACCP) process in food production, as it verifies that controls are working at the critical points in manufacturing.

Gelatine (QGS)

Quality in Gelatine Scheme (QGS) has been developed in collaboration with the trade body Gelatine Manufacturers of Europe (GME). GME members account for nearly half of worldwide gelatine production and GME's key role is to ensure that gelatine is manufactured to a consistently high quality, for the benefit of gelatine customers and consumers.

Hygiene Surface Monitoring (HYGIENE)

Participation in our HYGIENE scheme can help to demonstrate that environmental monitoring is effective and under control. Regular monitoring allows information to be collected to review and assess hygiene quality and ensure legislative standards are being met. It also helps to determine the effectiveness of control systems designed to prevent microbial contamination.

Meat & Fish (QMAS)

Quality in Meat and Fish Analysis Scheme (QMAS) is intended for chemists and microbiologists working in or providing analytical services to the meat, fish and shellfish processing industries. International consumption of meat and fish in human diets has increased rapidly, so manufacturing processes need to be highly regulated, to help prevent food safety issues occurring. Measures must be taken to prevent contamination with hazardous chemicals above specified limits, and to reduce the number of microorganisms capable of causing human disease.

Microbiological Confirmation and Identification (CONFIDENT)

Confirmation and Identification scheme (CONF-IDENT) is specifically designed to meet the needs of laboratories performing confirmation and/or identification of strains isolated from a sample using various techniques, from traditional biochemical/serological tests to more advanced genomic or molecular techniques (such as MALDI-TOF). Microorganism confirmation and identification is critical in a number of industries, including pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food and feed.

Shiga Toxin E.coli Scheme (STEC)

A comprehensive quality assurance programme featuring the LGC STEC Proficiency Testing scheme is an excellent way of helping to keep consumers safe and ensuring reputations for quality are maintained. The primary aim of our STEC scheme is to enable laboratories performing microbiological analysis of food and dairy products to monitor their performance and compare with that of their peers. Additionally, we aim to provide information to participants on technical issues and methodologies relating to testing of food and dairy products.