Trichinella meat inspection by the compression method - First proficiency test

In some countries, like Serbia, trichinellosis is one of the most important foodborne zoonotic parasitic diseases. The local authority in Serbia requires laboratory staff performing official controls on meat to be properly trained and participate regularly in proficiency testing for the detection of Trichinella larvae in meat by the magnetic stirrer method (MSM), organized by National Reference Laboratory for Trichinella. However, as in other countries in the world (in South America, Africa, and Asia), in Serbia, the compression method for detection of Trichinella larvae during meat testing is also in use. In spite of that, there is no described proficiency test (PT) for veterinarians who use this method. This study presents data for PT providers on how to produce samples for PT panels for the compression method. Performance results obtained by selected official laboratories from Serbia in this first PT at national level for the compression method are also shown. Results suggest that: 1) the method suggested produces sufficient quantity of homogeneous samples of suitable quality for compression PT panels, and 2) Serbian veterinarians who participated in this first Serbian PT for the compression method show suitable competence and good performance in testing the PT samples by the compression method.