Proficiency testing - Microbiology

PT programs

The Swedish Food Agency has arranged proficiency testing programs for microbiology since 1981. The programs are approved by SWEDAC, the accreditation body in Sweden, according to SS-EN ISO-IEC 17025 and SS-EN ISO-IEC 17043.

How a PT round works

• Samples are sent out to laboratories that have registered for participation.
• After analysis, participants report their results before a deadline.
• The results are statistically analyzed and put together into a report which is published on the website.

Price and delivery*

*The prices will be adjusted in 2025

Registration, reporting of results

PT participation is managed in our web portal:

https://laboratory.livsmedelsverket.se

New customer?

To register as a new customer:

https://www.livsmedelsverket.se/en/ptrm-newcustomer

Follow-up samples

PT participants can order one extra vial of each samples, free of charge. Additional vials cost 504 SEK/vial.

Orders are placed in our web portal, on the same page for regular RM orders:

https://laboratory.livsmedelsverket.se

• A fee of 410 SEK för administration/transport is added to each order.
• When stored corrently (darkness and at least -20 °C, but not lower than -55 °C), the concentration of microorganisms in the PT samples are normally stable for one year after the PT round. A gradual decrease of the microorganisms is expected over time, but this will normally not have a significant effect on the outcome of the follow-up analysis.
• Dispatch of samples is made within 1-2 weeks from ordering.

Documentation

PT rounds 2025

Web portal user guide

Scheme protocol for Proficiency Testing

Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)

General information about PT and RM

Accreditation certificate, ISO 17043

Accreditation certificate, ISO 17025

Reports

Contact

If you have any questions, please contact us by e-mail:
micro@slv.se

Processing of personal data

We collect, process and store information about you/your laboratory in order to adminster your/your laboratory's order or samples from us. We also collect, process and store information to administer and evaluate your/your laboratory's participation in our PTs. The collected data will occasionally be used to send out various relevant information to you/your laboratory, or to ask for participation in surveys. Exceptionally, anonymised information may be shared with a third party at our discretion.
The processing of personal data at the Swedish Food Agency

Confidentiality

The Swedish Food Agency is a government agency. This means that according to the principle of publicity, all communication to us is in principle considered to be public documents. In accordance with ISO 17043:2023, participant identities and PT results are treated as confidential, and are not shared with third parties, unless permission to do so is given by the participant or when Swedish law requires handing out documents or information about a participant. In the latter case, the principle of publicity is tried against the participant’s need for confidentiality on an individual basis.