Time to analyse refrigerated sausage samples?

Hello everybody,

I am going to perform some microbiological analysis and I need some advice. I need some help about the sampling, I have to take some samples of sausages at different stages of the process in one factory that is quite far from my company, and therefore from my lab. I will take the samples and keep them at refrigerated temperature (0-4C) until I analyse them, most probable the day after I take them. I have seen in the recommendations from the FDA to analyse refrigerated samples within 36 hours. I might be able to perform the analysis within this time but I wanted to ask people with experience on it, if they think that within maybe 48 hours will also be fine.

Thanks.

Dear LPali,

It is preferable to use a validated protocol. Otherwise yr subsequent data/interpretations may be questioned.

Such as FDA perhaps.

Rgds / Charles.C