Action to take if APC is Out of Parameter

Hi, I work in an almond processing plant, we test for APC, coliforms, and recently we got results out of the parameters on the final product, the product is currently on hold, my question is, if its possible to send the petrifilms to an outside lab (USDA certified lab)to get confirmed? Or the result that we get should remained as the final result on the reports? Or should I send another representative sample of the lot of almonds to get tested at an outside lab for the same test (APC, coliforms)?

You could definitely do that, even I'm sure you SHOULD do it. Especially, if it's an accredited lab, and then - second opinion, of course.

Hi, I work in an almond processing plant, we test for APC, coliforms, and recently we got results out of the parameters on the final product, the product is currently on hold, my question is, if its possible to send the petrifilms to an outside lab (USDA certified lab)to get confirmed? or the result that we get should remained as the final result on the reports? or should I send another representative sample of the lot of almonds to get tested at an outside lab for the same test (APC, coliforms)?

Hi svg,

Just as a procedural comment, I sincerely hope you took more than one sample ?.

Can you post some data values and the specifications  to give an idea about what you interpret as out of spec ?

I don't quite get why you would want to send the "plates" elsewhere. Was there a problem about counting the dots or ?

It is well known that micro.data may show considerable "scatter".

How many samples were taken for initial test and how many were out of specs?

Same batch?

I agree with the post above, you will need to send multiple samples from the same batch to the outside lab.