Microbiological Screening

Vanguard Laboratory provides testing to isolate and identify common indicator organisms and pathogenic bacteria and fungi in food, water, and environmental samples. Our microbiology lab follows ISO, AOAC, FDA, USDA and EPA guidelines to offer you consistent, reliable testing. We also perform a variety of swab tests for environmental monitoring to guarantee the safety of your production facility.

Vanguard Laboratory offers specialized food testing in most matrices:

  • Water
  • Beverages
  • Beer and Wine
  • Fruits and Vegetables
  • Meat
  • Fish
  • Cereals and Nuts
  • Individual ingredients and additives
  • Finished products
  • Food contact surfaces
  • Animal treats and feed

Screening for Pathogens

Bacterial Pathogens:

  • Brucella spp.
  • Campylobacter spp.
  • Cronobacter sakazakii
  • E. coli O157:H7
  • Pathogenic STEC (EHEC)
  • Enteroaggregative E. coli
  • Enteroinvasive E. coli
  • Enteropathogenic E. coli
  • Legionella spp.
  • Listeria monocytogenes
  • Mycobacterium spp.
  • Mycoplasma spp.
  • Salmonella spp.
  • Shigella spp.
  • Yersinia paratuberculosis
  • Yersinia enterocolitica
  • Vibrio spp.

Microbial Toxins

Mycotoxins:

  • Aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2)
  • Fumonisins (B1, B2)
  • Fusariums (DON, HT-2, T-2, ZON)
  • Ochratoxin A
  • Patulin

Other Toxins:

  • Botulinum Toxin
  • Cereulide
  • Domoic Acid
  • Microcystins (LR, RR, YR)
  • Staphylococcal Enterotoxins

Toxigenic Bacteria

  • Bacillus cereus
  • Clostridium botulinum
  • Clostridium perfringens
  • Staphylococcus aureus

Viral Pathogens

  • Norovirus
  • Hepatitis A
  • Hepatitis E

Parasites

  • Cyclospora cayetanensis
  • Cryptosporidium spp.
  • Giardia
  • Trichinella spiralis

Screening for Indicator Organisms

  • Aerobic Plate Counts
  • Anaerobic Plate Counts
  • Aerobic and Anaerobic Spores
  • Enterobacteriaceae
  • Enterococcus spp.
  • Total Fecal Coliforms
  • Generic E. coli
  • Lactic Acid Bacteria
  • Listeria spp.
  • Pseudomonas spp.
  • Total Coliform
  • Yeast and Mold

Screening for Spoilage Organisms

Beer

  • Brettanomyces bruxellensis
  • HOP resistant bacteria
  • Megasphaera cerevisiae
  • Pectinatus cerevisiiphilus
  • Pectinatus frisingensis
  • Saccharomyces diastatics

Beef

  • Brochotrix thermosphacta
  • Clostridium estherticum
  • Clostridium algidicarnis
  • Enterobacteriaceae
  • Lactic Acid Bacteria
  • Pseudomonas spp.

Fruit Juice

  • Acetobacter spp.
  • Alicylobacillus acidoterrestris
  • Aspergillus flavus
  • Rhodotorula mucilaginosa

Wine

  • Acetobacter spp.
  • Brettanomyces bruxellensis
  • Gluconobacter spp.
  • Lactobacillus spp.
  • Oenocccus oeni
  • Pedicoccus spp.
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae
  • Zygosaccharomyces bailii

Pork

  • Brochotrix thermosphacta
  • Carnobacterium divergens
  • Lactococcus piscium
  • Leuconostoc spp.
  • Photobacterium phosphoreum

Produce

  • Acinetobacter calcoaceticus
  • Botrytis cinerea
  • Clavibacter michiganensis
  • Erwinia carotovora
  • Lactobacillus buchneri
  • Leuconostoc gelidum
  • Pectobacterium carotovorum
  • Pseudomonas chlororaphis
  • Pseudomonas spp.
  • Xanthomonas campestris

Dairy

  • Bacillus spp.
  • Enterobacteriaceae
  • Mucor circinelloides
  • Paenibacillus spp.
  • Pseudomonas fluorescencs
  • Pseudomonas fragi
  • Pseudomonas lundensis

Poultry

  • Acinetobacter spp.
  • Candida spp.
  • Debaryomyces spp.
  • Pseudomonas spp.
  • Rhodotorula spp.

Seafood

  • Carnobacterium divergens
  • Carnobacterium maltaromaticum
  • Lactobacillus alimentarius
  • Lactobacillus curvatus
  • Lactobacillus sakei
  • Photobacterium iliopiscarium
  • Photobacterium phosphoreum
  • Pseudomonas spp.
  • Psychrobacter immobilis
  • Shewanella baltica
  • Shewanella putrefaciens

For pricing on all of the above microbiological screenings, please give us a call at the office. Discounted bundle pricing is available if you would like to screen for a panel of microorganisms.