ICAR

Calls of PT for 2017 (March and September)

ICAR is pleased to announce the organization of the ICAR Proficiency Test 2017.

The participation in ICAR proficiency test will comply with analytical quality assurance requirements ISO 17025 and with the system of Certification of Quality implemented by ICAR from 2006 includes a recognition of the competence of laboratories and, more widely, of analytical systems in ICAR member organisation that requires regular PT participation with international anchorage.

The ICAR PT is accreditated ISO 17043 for Fat-Protein-Lactose-Urea-Somatic Cell determination.

ICAR PT Programme 2017 and administrative aspects

The technical sub contractor of this proficiency testing scheme is ACTALIA who have for many years collaborated efficiently with ICAR.

The ICAR PT parameters considered are: fat, protein, urea, lactose, somatic cell, beta-Hydroxybutyrate (BHB), Pregnancy Associated Glycoproteins (PAG) and Microorganism DNA PCR technique in cow milk.

For fat, protein, urea, lactose, somatic cell, beta-Hydroxybutyrate (BHB), it will be possible to participate with chemical (direct) method and alternative (indirect) method. ICAR secretariat will collect the participation forms and will send you the final report and the invoice. The Secretariat underlines that ICAR PT and ACTALIA PT will be organized in parallel.

If you are interested in other parameters offered by Actalia you have to subscribe the Actalia order.

The contract between ICAR and ACTALIA prescribes that for the ICAR PT parameters you will receive only that invoice from ICAR.

ACTALIA will invoice your company only for the parameters that are NOT included in ICAR PT (extra-parameters)

So to be clear, ICAR will invoice for the ICAR PT parameters and Actalia will invoice separately their extra parameters.

You will receive the ICAR PT Report that assures a better management of the quality assurance to your laboratory. A feature of the new ICAR PT report is that it will help you track and trend your performance over time.

ICAR technical staff will help the interpretation and provide the support as necessary.

Participatory form

The participatory form is available here

Technical Information

Packaging: 65 ml or 35 ml polyethylene screw-capped vials with airtight joints.

Dispatch: by express carrier with ice in isolated boxes => arrival within 1 day (for most European countries) or up to 5 days, depending on the consignee’s country.

Storage in the laboratory: samples must be stored at 4°C upon arrival and should be analysed for SCC no longer than 5 days, and for chemistry no longer than 10 days, after the dispatch date.

Particular cautions for international delivery

Large delays can result from missing the exact fulfilment of the custom requirements of the importing country so it is important to update Actalia-Cecalait on the local custom requirements and the latest changes.

For new participants, particular attention should be paid to the first trial to check transport effectiveness and, where needed, enable possible improvement with regard to delays. The most appropriate method for sample transport and delivery will be determined.

ICAR PT Fees

The fees reported are for each dispatch, for each parameter and for each set of samples. Shipping costs are real costs invoiced by express courier.

These prices do not include VAT

Results

After the samples dispatch, you will receive the ICAR PT Excel form necessary to send back your results to pt@icar.org

Statistical treatment

The statistical treatment will be done according the ISO 17043 for each parameter. The ICAR report scheme has been simplified by the ICAR Milk Analyses Sub-Committee and includes a full overview/explanation of the ICAR population.

All the data will be treated anonymously and a tight confidentiality commitment is guaranteed

Contacts

For any further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact ICAR secretariat:

• Silvia Orlandini email silvia@icar.org phone +39 349 7967223
• Cesare Mosconi email mosconi@icar.org phone +39 06 852371