UK-based LGC Standards has introduced two new methods for meat speciation testing, as part of its established Quality in Meat and Fish Analysis proficiency testing scheme.

The launch of new samples, which comes in the wake of the ongoing horse meat scandal, is aimed at supporting meat testing laboratories.

The company stated that the new methods are suitable for meat testing laboratories that are involved in the analysis and authentication of beef products. The two new rounds are: determination of equine in bovine meat, and determination of porcine in bovine meat.

LGC Standards Proficiency Testing (PT) director Brian Brookman said that the new PT rounds will allow laboratories carrying out such tests to demonstrate, and improve, the quality of their measurements, thus giving confidence to retailers, consumers and regulators in their test results on beef products.

LGC Standards, headquartered in Teddington, Middlesex, UK, provides products and services to improve measurement and quality control within the laboratory. It supplies over 100,000 products including reference materials, pharmaceutical impurity reference standards, biological standards and reagents, and proficiency testing.