The PathWest Food Hygiene Laboratory (FHL) has over 30 years of experience in the field of food microbiology helping private companies and government agencies safeguard food products. The FHL is NATA accredited for testing a vast variety of products using either Australian, International Standards or fully validated equivalents. The methods are chosen for their sensitivity, specificity, fast turn around time and cost effectiveness.

The FHL is at the forefront of new developments and offers a variety of specialised and innovative molecular techniques such as PCR detection of pathogens including Salmonella, Listeria and shiga-like-toxin producing E.coli (including E.coli O157).

The Food Hygiene Laboratory offers a wide variety of microbiological assays for food and the food environment:

• Total Plate Counts
• Total Coliforms
• Escherichia coli (including SLT E.coli & E.coli O157)
• Coagulase Positive Staphylococci
• Bacillus cereus
• Clostridium perfringens
• Salmonella spp. (including full serotyping)
• Listeria spp. (including speciation if required)
• Campylobacter spp.
• Vibrio spp.
• Antibiotics in milk & milk products
• Commercial Sterility
• Can Seam analysis and Pressure Test
• Lactic Acid Bacteria

PathWest has extensive expertise in food microbiology demonstrated by representation on various committees such as:

• FT/4 - Standards Australia Food Microbiology
• Western Australian Food Monitoring Programme
• Review of the ANZFA Food Standards Code – Microbiology Committee
• FSANZ – Guidelines for Ready-to-Eat Food Committee

In addition to the routine food and water testing, PathWest offers a comprehensive clinical consultation service covering all aspects of microbiology. This can range from food poisoning outbreak investigations to advice related to occupational health and the management of infectious diseases.

For more information on how PathWest can assist you maintain hygiene levels to the highest standards, please contact our marketing department on (08) 9346 2142 or via email at marketing@pathwest.com.au

Measurement uncertainty data on PathWest Vitamins quantitative tests can be downloaded here

Measurement uncertainty data on PathWest Food quantitative tests can be downloaded here