Determination of nitrogen solubility in dilute pepsin hydrochloric acid solution of fishmeal: interlaboratory study

A revised method to determine solubility of nitrogen in dilute pepsin, using 0.0002% pepsin in place of 0.2% in AOAC Official Method 971.09, was tested in 16 laboratories with 12 samples of fishmeal. Results were calculated according to 2 procedures: AOAC Official Method 971.09 and a method described in 1964 by researchers at the Torry Research Station (Aberdeen, Scotland), and generally referred to as the modified Torry method. Variations in the method of shaking and source of pepsin were also investigated. Pepsin solubility values were lower and more variable when calculated by the Torry procedure. The method of shaking apparently affected the result when calculated according to the Torry but not the AOAC method. The source of pepsin had no significant effect on between-laboratory variability, but a comparison of the 2 main sources within one laboratory resulted in highly significant differences. Based on this study, the International Fishmeal and Fish Oil Organization has adopted this new method, using 0.0002% pepsin but keeping the AOAC method of calculation. The type of shaker and source of pepsin are recommended but are not mandatory. The repeatability and reproducibility limits of this new method are 1.6 and 3.3% units of solubility, respectively.