title: Validation of a near infrared microscopy method for the detection of animal products in feedingstuffs: results of a collaborative study.
abstract: The performance characteristics of a near infrared microscopy (NIRM) method, when applied to the detection of animal products in feedingstuffs, were determined via a collaborative study. The method delivers qualitative results in terms of the presence or absence of animal particles in feed and differentiates animal from vegetable feed ingredients on the basis of the evaluation of near infrared spectra obtained from individual particles present in the sample. The specificity ranged from 86% to 100%. The limit of detection obtained on the analysis of the sediment fraction, prepared as for the European official method, was 0.1% processed animal proteins (PAPs) in feed, since all laboratories correctly identified the positive samples. This limit has to be increased up to 2% for the analysis of samples which are not sedimented. The required sensitivity for the official control is therefore achieved in the analysis of the sediment fraction of the samples where the method can be applied for the detection of the presence of animal meal. Criteria for the classification of samples, when fewer than five spectra are found, as being of animal origin needs to be set up in order to harmonise the approach taken by the laboratories when applying NIRM for the detection of the presence of animal meal in feed.
authors.affiliation: European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM), Geel, Belgium. ana.boix-sanfeliu@ec.europa.eu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boix
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Fernández Pierna
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: von Holst
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Baeten
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards; D000818:Animals; D001688:Biological Products / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D002417:Cattle; D002681:China; D016643:Encephalopathy, Bovine Spongiform / Q000517:prevention & control; D005062:European Union; D005396:Fish Products / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D005506:Food Contamination; D005513:Food Inspection / Q000379:methods*; D057230:Limit of Detection; D008460:Meat / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D008853:Microscopy; D008903:Minerals / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared
chemical_list: D001688:Biological Products; D008903:Minerals; C027762:bone meal