Ensures that the method will perform as stated in the instructions for use and that the method has been thoroughly tested in a collaborative study. Such collaboratively studied methods can then be included in Federal Code of Regulations, and federal agencies such as the FDA and USDA can add them to their code of approved methods, adding to the customer’s confidence in the product.

MicroVal is an international certification organization for the validation and approval of alternative methods for the microbiological analysis of food and beverages. A MicroVal Certificate shows that a proprietary method performs equally well as the traditional, internationally standardized method. MicroVal certificates are valid for four years upon which they can be renewed.

Methods carrying the NF mark have been thoroughly tested in a rigorous protocol that includes a method comparison and a collaborative study carried out by a certified expert laboratory. Also includes regular audits of manufacturing sites. NF certificate is valid for four years, then reevaluated and renewed, giving the customer confidence that the product’s performance remains consistent year after year.