UNCERTAINTY FROM SAMPLING IN FOOD MICROBIOLOGY

I. Ljevaković-Musladin

Abstract

The aim of this study was to estimate uncertainty arising from the sampling of food for microbiological analysis. A balanced experimental design using the duplicate method was a method of choice for empirical estimation of uncertainty. Duplicate test portions were drawn from both test samples and analyzed in duplicate. This approach allowed the estimation of overall measurement uncertainty and its components; analytical uncertainty and sampling uncertainty. Classical ANOVA and Robust ANOVA were used for the calculation. Based on 12 sampling targets of minced meat, uncertainty from sampling was estimated as 0.10-0.11 log10 cfu/g for microbiological parameter aerobic colony count, while analytical uncertainty was 0.04 log10 cfu/g. Estimated uncertainties proved to be fit-for-purpose. Results showed that uncertainty from sampling is the major contributor to overall measurement uncertainty.

Keywords

measurement uncertainty; sampling; sampling uncertainty; food microbiology

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IMEKO-TC11-2022-21.pdf

DOI

10.21014/tc11-2022.21

IMEKO TC

TC11 - Measurement in Testing, Inspection and Certification

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