A man and woman wearing lab coats, the man wearing safety glasses.

Food Safety Testing Lab Outsourcing

Be informed. Take control. Outsource with confidence.

Contact a representative

Your samples. Your partner. Your choice.

Food safety testing is complex, costly, and time-consuming. Sometimes, the best choice is to outsource lab testing, but choosing a food safety contract lab isn’t a walk in the park either. When choosing a food testing lab to partner with, there are a lot of selection criteria to consider.

1

When to consider outsourcing toggle

Testing Volume

When there is a consistent low need to conduct a certain kind/method of testing.
Time Restraints

In cases where outsourcing is faster than in-house testing.
Employment Challenges

When trained, qualified in-house laboratory technicians do not meet current demands.
Capital Costs

In cases where outsourcing is cheaper than maintaining an in-house laboratory.

Use what you trust.

Whether you keep your testing in house or decide to outsource, you want to ensure your lab is using methods that you trust. See how 3M’s Food Safety testing methods align with your lab’s protocols.

3M's validation methods for quality indicators

3M's validated pathogen method

A picture of an article with an image showing containers of liquid.

Read the full “When to consider outsourcing” article.

Read Article

Collapse Arrow up

2

What to look for when outsourcing toggle

Location

Minimize processing time and costs by using food safety contract labs located close to your plant.
Methods

Improve the reliability of results by ensuring your contract lab will use methods that best fit the metrics you want to collect.
Accreditation

Guarantee the operating standards of your lab by ensuring your contract lab operates within global ISO accreditation standards.
Additional Services

Get the most from your contract lab by taking advantage of any additional services they may offer their customers beyond microbiology and chemical testing.

Request what works.

When outsourcing to a contract lab, specify your preferred testing methods. No one knows your company’s metrics better than you do, so your preferences matter to the contract lab representative. It is recommended to request a method that best fits the metrics your company collects, delivering results you know you can trust.

A picture of an article with an image of two lab workers.

Read the full article on what to look for when outsourcing.

Read Article

Collapse Arrow up

3

How to guarantee appropriate results when outsourcing toggle

Method

Get reliable results and ensure consistency by asking your contract lab to use methods that best fit the metrics you want to collect and help reduce manual steps.
Time

Increase the speed of your contract lab by encouraging them to use rapid testing systems.
Sensitivity and Specificity

Get accurate, reliable results that uphold the values of your company by ensuring your contract lab uses testing methods with minimal risk of errors and variability, especially with manual preparation processes, like media preparation.
Validation

Guarantee the trustworthiness of your outsourced tests by insisting on the methods you know and trust, even if it is not currently used by your contract lab.

3M can help you get the results you can trust.

When it comes to food testing, no one understands the metrics your company uses better than you. Ask your contract lab to use the proven 3M products you already rely on to help get results you can trust.

View food safety testing solutions from 3M

A picture of an article with an image showing two lab workers, seated back to back, working at lab counters.

Read the full “Method selection” article.

Read Article

Collapse Arrow up

Featured food safety testing solutions from 3M

View more solutions

Hygiene monitoring equipment beside two ATP test swabs and a computer monitor showing hygiene monitoring software.

Register to receive up to 30% off the 3M™ Hygiene Monitoring Bundle!*

Register Now

*Only available in Canada. Valid from April 1, 2022 to June 30, 2022. Terms and conditions apply.

Resources

Learn more about outsourcing best practices by downloading 3M resources and articles.

Download articles and checklists to help you make the right choices, so you can always outsource with confidence.

All fields are required.

Select which article you would like to download (Select all that apply)
Food safety testing: When to consider outsourcing.
Choosing a food safety contract lab? Questions to ask.
Method selection: Insist on the one that performs best on your matrices.

First name
Last name
Email
Job title
Company
Industry

3M will use the information to respond to your request and in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

Opt-in: I would like to receive electronic messages, which may include promotions, product information and service offers, from 3M. I understand that I may unsubscribe at any time using the opt-out link provided in every electronic message.

3M takes your privacy seriously. 3M and its authorized third parties will use the information you provided in accordance with our Privacy Policy to send you communications, which may include promotions, product information and service offers.

Thank you!

To download your articles, click the link(s) below:

Click here to download "Food safety testing: When to consider outsourcing."

Click here to download "Choosing a food safety contract lab? Questions to ask."

Click here to download "Method selection: Insist on the one that performs best on your matrices."

Sorry!

We can’t seem to complete your request. Please try again.