Why Use 3rd Party Laboratories?

The decision to use a third-party analytical laboratory is a difficult choice to make. Undoubtedly the stakes are high when you rely on a third-party for analytical results. Accordingly, this choice should be heavily supported and broadly acclaimed by your organization. The following information will illustrate several reasons why third-party testing is the right choice to make.

Accreditation

Many third-party laboratories receive accreditation for microbiological and chemical analyses. While it is possible for internal laboratories to become accredited, it is often too costly, too time consuming and requires too many resources to make it a feasible option. By using an accredited third-party laboratory, a manufacturer is assured that they will receive accurate and consistent results.

According to ISO 17025 standards, accreditation ensures a laboratory’s quality system has been examined for adequacy and functionality. It also indicates that there is a comprehensive system of checks and balances in place to verify technical competence and that the lab can produce unequivocal results.

Using FSNS as an example, we willingly and easily provide our clients with accreditation information, including our approved scope of accreditation and supportive analytical proficiency data. The scope includes all analytical tests that the laboratory has been audited against. Analytical proficiency data provides an overall picture of the lab staff’s technical competency. Your third-party laboratory partner should routinely participate in an external proficiency program that covers the scope of the test it performs, ideally multiple times throughout the year. The quality control staff at the laboratory should also maintain current on ISO 17025 standards so they can maintain consistency and uphold quality system policies and procedures.

Limiting Liability and Risk

Utilizing a third-party laboratory eliminates the dangerous liability of in-house pathogen testing. An in-house facility must properly segregate all microbiological testing by maintaining as isolated facility, proper laboratory quality assurance, and personnel. In addition, a test is not valid without proper positive and negative controls which require live cultures to be maintained. Having these live cultures in a food processing facility creates the possibility of contamination of finished product. By limiting the use of these dangerous microbial agents in the processing facility, you are also limiting the possibility and liability of creating a food safety crisis.

Better Business Sense

Many companies have found that outsourcing non-core competencies, such as laboratory services, makes better business sense. Industry leaders are driving the trend to outsource all testing to further enhance their food safety programs and to better commit internal resources. By focusing resources on their core competencies (i.e. food development and production), food manufacturers are increasing their potential for profit. When food manufacturers focus on producing food and allow third-party laboratories to focus on the food testing, a more profitable use of time, resources and capital is realized.

FSNS has built strong relationships with many of the largest beef packers and food manufacturers in the United States who have chosen to outsource their laboratory services to a third-party laboratory. These are companies that had been performing their food testing in-house for many years, and realized that is was in their best interest to outsource these services. They are now experiencing the many benefits that come with using an accredited third-party laboratory and are embracing their decision to terminate in-house testing.

Consistency

Consistency is critical at many levels including, sample processing and analysis, result reporting, troubleshooting and overall communication. Third-party laboratories have the expertise, focus, resources, and dedication to ensure that consistency is maintained at all times. Biological sciences are variable in nature, making consistency in sample processing and reporting clear core competencies when searching for a laboratory partner. Consistency will help minimize variability that occurs in biological samples.
Consistent laboratory logistics and procedures will aid technical staff in troubleshooting inconsistent results. This is paramount when it comes to data interpretation and resulting implications, especially regulatory actions. Consistency can help put your mind at ease during critical times of uncertainty. Labs that have a reputation for consistency use accredited, validated and/or standardized methods, quality control standards, technical training, result interpretation and reporting.

Added Services

Added services such as consulting, auditing, education, research and technical support allow your company to see results in the bigger picture of food safety and quality. Third-party laboratories, such as FSNS, can provide these value-added services. For example, if analytical results are less than your desired goal, your third-party laboratory can provide you with additional support, such as consulting and auditing to further examine potential hurdles to your goal. For example, if your environmental samples demonstrate unacceptable microbial levels, your third-party lab can offer consulting and auditing services to help you work through processing hurdles and potential niche areas in the facility to ultimately support effective sanitation procedures. Similarly, if you are having issues with the integrity of finished products, such as a diminished shelf life or abnormal appearance, your third-party lab can provide the technical expertise to recommend such key components as raw materials, ingredients and packaging for the development of a resolution plan.

Industry Contacts

Networking should also be an extension of your laboratory services. Through your third-party lab, you can have open access to a network of resources and contacts that can support you and your organization as needs arise, or simply to keep you informed of the latest technological advances and regulatory requirements. Laboratories that are actively involved in industry trade meetings and technical sessions, and have long-standing relationships with industry leaders can provide information and support faster and with more depth. Having access to a third-party laboratory that upholds and maintains such relationships can more strategically guide you through technological advances and regulatory change.