Ask An Expert with David Legan - Absence, Negative, and Not Detected
Overview
Eurofins Microbiology Laboratories, Inc. is made up of a network of microbiology labs located all throughout the US to support microbiological testing needs. Each lab has dedicated customer support so you get answers fast. Our Ask an Expert Series showcases our scientists from around the country and answers questions customers frequently ask. Videos are published weekly on all of social media platforms.
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Ask an Expert Series - Topic #19
Is "not detected" the same as "absent"?
"Eurofins believes that “not detected” is the most correct way to report the result from a test that does not find a target pathogen. Pathogens present in foods or environments are generally in low concentrations and not uniformly distributed, so it’s possible for the test portion to not contain the target pathogen, even if the overall environment or lot of material does. This means that it could be misleading to report “absent” or “negative”, even if qualified by the test portion size. Where regulations or reference methods specify a different method of reporting we follow those requirements." - David Legan, Ph.D. Director of Microbiological Sciences, Eurofins Microbiology Laboratories, Inc.
