Microbiological Testing
We provide routine and investigative microbiological analysis including:
- Salmonella species
- Listeria species and Listeria monocytogenes
- Escherichia coli
- Coliforms
- Enterobacteriaceae
- Standard plate count
- Yeasts and moulds
- Coagulase positive Staphylococci
- Bacillus cereus
- Clostridium perfringens
- Campylobacter
- Vibrio species
Selecting the right testing for your product depends on the specific food category and the inherent risks associated with different product types:
| Food category | High priority pathogens | Secondary risks | Key risk drivers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ready-to-eat (RTE) chilled foods | Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, , Staphylococcus | Bacillus cereus, E. coli/coliforms | No kill step, refrigeration growth, high handling |
| Dairy (milk, cheese, cream, yoghurt) | Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, Staphylococcus | Bacillus cereus, E. coli/coliforms | Raw milk risk, post-pasteurisation contamination |
| Meat & poultry / smallgoods | Salmonella, STEC/E. coli , Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter, Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas | Clostridium, Staphylococcus | Animal reservoirs, processing contamination |
| Seafood | Listeria monocytogenes, Vibrio, | Salmonella | Water environment, post-harvest handling |
| Fresh produce | Salmonella, , Listeria monocytogenes | Irrigation water, soil, minimal processing | |
| Shelf-stable / ambient foods | Salmonella, Bacillus cereus | Yeast/mould, spore-formers | Dry survival, low water activity environments |
| Frozen foods (new category) | Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella | Bacillus cereus, Clostridium | No pathogen kill step after freezing; survival rather than growth; contamination pre-freezing is critical |
| Beverages (juices, soft drinks, alcoholic) | Yeast/mould, Alicyclobacillus | Salmonella (rare), E. coli (process failure) | Acid tolerance, post-fill contamination |
| High-acid foods (pickles, sauces, fermented foods) | Yeast, mould | Listeria monocytogenes (rare environmental persistence) | Low pH suppresses pathogens |
| Pet food (wet & dry) | Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes | Enterobacteriaceae | Raw ingredient contamination, minimal post-process kill |
NEED TESTING? LET’S TALK
Contact our team to discuss your testing needs. We provide laboratory testing services across Australia from our metro Adelaide laboratory, with interstate sample submissions welcome.
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