Overview
EN ISO 10272-1:2017 - "Microbiology of the food chain - Horizontal method for detection and enumeration of Campylobacter spp. - Part 1: Detection method" - is a CEN-endorsed ISO standard that specifies a horizontal laboratory method for the detection of Campylobacter species. It applies to food and feed products, environmental samples from food/feed production and handling, and primary-production samples (animal faeces, dust, swabs). The standard defines detection by enrichment or direct plating, and describes confirmation and optional species identification procedures.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope and applicability: Detection method for products intended for human consumption, animal feeding, environmental and primary-production samples in the food chain.
- Principle: Detection via selective enrichment in liquid media or isolation on selective solid media, followed by confirmation and optional species identification.
- Detection procedures: Multiple detection routes (designated A, B, C) covering enrichment and plating approaches to suit different sample types and laboratory workflows.
- Sampling and sample preparation: Requirements for representative sampling and preparation of test portions and initial suspensions tailored to the matrix.
- Isolation and confirmation: Guidance on colony selection, morphology and motility examination, oxidase testing and other confirmation steps; includes a specific check for aerobic growth at 25 °C as part of confirmation.
- Species identification (optional): Tests such as catalase, hippurate hydrolysis and indoxyl acetate hydrolysis are included for further differentiation of Campylobacter spp.
- Performance characteristics: Information on method validation including sensitivity, specificity and limit of detection (LOD), plus interlaboratory study considerations.
- Annexes: Normative diagrams of procedures, lists of culture media and reagents, and informative method validation/performance data.
Practical applications & who uses it
- Food testing laboratories performing routine surveillance for Campylobacter in poultry, meat, dairy and other food matrices.
- Feed producers and testing labs monitoring animal feed safety.
- Primary producers and farm laboratories testing animal faeces, environmental swabs and dust for on-farm surveillance.
- Regulatory agencies and public health laboratories using a harmonized, validated method for compliance testing and outbreak investigations.
- Contract testing and QC labs that need standardized protocols for reporting and traceability.
Using EN ISO 10272-1:2017 helps ensure consistent, comparable results across laboratories and supports food safety risk management related to Campylobacter contamination.
Related standards
- EN/ISO 10272 series (the complementary part covering enumeration of Campylobacter spp. is typically referenced for quantitative analysis).
- Other food microbiology standards and national regulations for food safety testing and laboratory accreditation.
Keywords: EN ISO 10272-1:2017, Campylobacter detection, food microbiology standard, enrichment, selective media, detection method, food chain testing.