Safety Data Sheet for:
UK Health Security Agency Proficiency Testing (PT) samples for food and water microbiology samples in LENTICULE® disc format
| Review date | 31 March 2026 |
| Issued to: | All users of UKHSA PT schemes |
| Access: | Document can be downloaded from FEPTU’s website |
Food and Environmental Proficiency Testing Unit (FEPTU)
UK Health Security Agency
61 Colindale Avenue
London
NW9 5EQ
Tel: +44 (0) 20 8327 7119
E-Mail: foodeqa@phe.gov.uk
Website: https://www.feptu.org.uk
SAFETY DATA SHEET FOR UKHSA FOOD AND WATER MICROBIOLOGY LENTICULE PT SAMPLES
1. Identification of the product and the establishment
| Product: | Simulated food/water samples for microbiological examinations that may contain a mixture of micro-organisms or control micro-organisms in pure culture. |
| Establishment: | Food & Environmental Proficiency Testing Unit UK Health Security Agency 61 Colindale Avenue London NW9 5EQ Telephone (9.00 – 17.00 hours) +44 (0) 20 8327 7119 Telephone (Out of working hours) +44 (0) 20 8200 4400 |
2. Composition/information on ingredients
Plastic vials containing bacteria of Hazard Group 2, in tablet format (LENTICULE disc) with a silica gel desiccant Hazard Group 2 as defined by the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens 2023 Approved List of Biological Agents http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/misc208.pdf.
A Hazard Group 2 organism may cause human disease and may be a hazard to laboratory workers, but is unlikely to spread to the community.
The silica gel self-indicating (orange) inserts are not classified as dangerous material.
3. Hazards identification
| Physico-chemical hazard: | Not applicable |
| Health hazard: | Minimal risk of infection provided good laboratory practice is observed |
| Environmental hazard: | Not applicable |
4. First aid measures
If accidental contact with material occurs laboratory staff must follow local first aid procedures that are normally applied following exposure to an equivalent food/water sample. Following exposure to the material medical advice must be sought.
5. Fire fighting measures
Not applicable.
6. Accidental release measures
Wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment, pick up the dropped tablet (LENTICULE disc) with absorbent material moistened with a suitable disinfectant. Wipe area with a similarly moistened pad of absorbent material and subsequently sterilise all paper and the tablet (LENTICULE disc).
7. Handling and storage
Store at -20±5°C. Samples must be processed in a laboratory environment which, as defined by national regulations or guidelines, is suitable for the handling of micro-organisms of ACDP Hazard Group 2. Staff handling the material should have been trained in the handling of infectious biological material. The material should be treated with the same degree of care as would be exercised with equivalent food and water samples submitted to the laboratory for testing. Hand-to-mouth contact should be avoided while working with the samples and normal hand-washing procedures relating to the handling of routine samples must be observed also with PT samples.
8. Exposure controls/Personal protection
Use good laboratory practice and wear appropriate laboratory coat, gloves and eye protection.
9. Physical and chemical properties
Inert odourless dry material.
10. Stability and reactivity
Long term storage will not increase the risks of infection associated with handling the material.
11. Toxicological information
Not applicable
12. Ecological information
Not applicable
13. Disposal considerations
The used material must be disposed of using an autoclave as for food/water samples containing infectious micro-organisms and in accordance with all local and national regulations.
14. Transport information
Refer to national and international regulations for transport of bacteria in Hazard Group 2 (Biological substance, category B; UN3373).
15. Regulatory information
EC Biological agent, Hazard Category/Risk Group 2
Note that this safety data sheet does not constitute the user’s own assessments of workplace risk as required by Health and Safety legislation.
16. Other information
In the event of an accident involving exposure of staff to the material contained in the samples, contact The Food and Environmental Proficiency Testing Unit (+44 (0) 20 8327 7119) during normal UK working hours. The Colindale Duty Officer (+44 (0) 20 8200 4400) should be contacted out of hours.
For further safety information concerning this product, participants are advised to read the instruction sheets available from the website: https://www.feptu.org.uk