The Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM) is organizing a collaborative study to validate two analysis methods for the determination of boar taint marker substances in pork tissue. These methods shall be standardised, and will serve as reference for the development of rapid methods.
Invitation
Laboratories interested in participating in the collaborative trial find further information on how to participate at the website of the Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM).
Participation in the collaborative trial is open to all laboratories and free of charge!
Timing
The collaborative study will be conducted in summer/autumn 2013. The participants will be invited to a workshop (provisionally scheduled for June) to discuss the design of the study and details of the proposed methods. Travel costs and accommodation fees will be carried by the organisers of the collaborative trial.
Methods
The methods are characterised by the ease of sample handling, appropriate sample through-put, and time necessary to generate results. Other characteristics are a potential high level of automation and broad applicability in food control laboratories with regard to required instrumentation. One of the two methods is based on gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (GC-MS), whereas the other comprises high performance liquid chromatography hyphenated to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). However, it shall be stressed that it is not the intention to employ the proposed methods at the slaughter line.
More information
For methods details please refer to the website of IRMM.