STRD0521: Final Report

We are pleased to announce that the final report for the interlaboratory study on accuracy and precision in the analysis of standard solutions – STRD0521 – is now available. Thank you for your patience. Please retrieve your copy from the FIS-VL. We would be grateful if you would fill out the follow-up questionnaire available here. All participants have received the password via e-mail.

Euroresidue IX

We would like to point out an upcoming conference which might be of interest for scientists working in the field of veterinary drugs. From 23-25 May 2022 Euroresidue IX will be organised in St. Michielsgestel, the Netherlands. The theme of the conference will be “Veterinary residue control, the beginning of a new era”. The programme consist of introduction and in depth lectures on legislation, screening and confirmatory technologies, sample preparation, environmental issues, future trends and risk assessment. Next to the lectures a pre-conference workshop will be organised. Please see the flyer and the link for more information.

We hope to see you all in May in the Netherlands!

BVL: EURL Workshop 2022

Since it is currently impossible to foresee if any travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be in place in May, the EURL Berlin has decided to conduct the annual workshop as a web meeting once again. The workshop is planned for 05-06 May, 2022 and a preliminary programm will be made available around the end of March.

NIIM1021: Delay in the publication of the final report

Due to a shortage of staff the publication of the final report for the proficiency test NIIM1021 has to be postponed to June 2022.Following up on the preliminary report, only minor changes were necessary and therefore, the z-scores will only change minimally for the final report. Any specific questions regarding the proficiency test or the analysis of nitroimidazoles in plasma and milk in general can be submitted to the EURL Berlin.

2022 EURL Berlin Proficiency Tests

The EURL Berlin is planning to organise two proficiency tests in 2022. Scheduled for the first and second quarter is a proficiency test on the determination of beta-agonists in bovine urine (BETA0422). Participating laboratories will be provided with 3-4 incurred samples containing an unknown number and amount of beta-agonists. The test items are projected to ship in April.

The EURL Berlin’s second PT in 2022 is planned for the third and fourth quarter. As regards the substance group of interest, there are currently two options. The PT will either deal with the analysis of coccidiostats in liver or the analysis of nitroimidazoles in porcine muscle. The laboratory network will be informed which PT will be organised as soon as a decision has been taken. Further details on all PTs will be announced in due time.

NIIM1021: Preliminary Report

The preliminary report for the proficiency test STRD0521 is now available on the FIS-VL. The objective of this proficiency test was to allow the participants to assess the performance of their routine methods for the analysis of nitroimidazoles in plasma. Additionally, a milk sample was supplied, which participants were asked to analyse using their routine method for the analysis of milk, or, if no such method was available, their analytical method for plasma. All participants are asked to have a look at their results and communicate any deviations from the results they submitted to the EURL Berlin by 15 December 2021.

EURL Guidance Document on Confirmation Method Validation published

In order to support the harmonised interpretation and the implementation of the Commission Implementing Regulation 2021/808 laying down requirements for the performance of methods for the analysis of veterinary drug residues, COM has asked the EURLs to provide guidance documents dealing with specific aspects which might require supplemental information. Now, the EURL Guidance Document on Confirmation Method Validation has been finalised and is available as of today.

The document provides suggestions for the validation of confirmation methods based on the conventional and the alternative validation approach. Furthermore, the document’s annex offers an overview of the major differences in requirements laid down in Commission Decision 2002/657/EC and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/808.

The drafts of the guidance document on confirmation method validation were presented and discussed during the meetings of the Working Group on Residues of Veterinary Medicinal Products in Food of Animal Origin and during the EURL workshops. Additionally, all NRLs had the opportunity to provide comments in order to increase the document’s practicality.

Although the guidance document represents the EURLs’ interpretation of CIR (EU) 2021/808 and is meant as a support for all laboratories, it is not seen as mandatory to follow. Other approaches are possible, if they provide plausible and comparable results. However, we sincerely hope that you will find the document useful, especially in conjunction with the EURL Guidance document on method extension, also available from the EURL website.