Division 3.1 Preparation of the samples

At the laboratory samples shall be kept refrigerated until examination. Examination shall start within 48 hours following the time of receipt of the samples and within four days from the date of sampling.

Dust samples shall be analysed separately. However, the competent authority may decide to pool them with the pair of boot swabs for analysis.

The sample shall be swirled to fully saturate it and culturing shall be continued by using the detection method set out in point 3.2.

The two pairs of boot swabs shall be carefully unpacked to avoid dislodging adherent faecal material, pooled and placed in 225 ml of buffered peptone water (BPW) pre-warmed to room temperature, or 225 ml of diluent is added directly to the two pairs of boot swabs in their container as received in the laboratory.

The boot swabs shall be fully submersed in BPW to provide sufficient free liquid around the sample for migration of Salmonella away from the sample and therefore more BPW may be added if necessary.

If F1ISO standards on the preparation of faeces for the detection of Salmonella are agreed on, they shall replace the provisions on the preparation of samples set out in this point as appropriate.