Alternative methods
Due to food safety requirements, frequent microbiological analyses are required at all stages of food production. The reference methods, most often described in standards, are generally expensive in terms of labour and have a relatively long implementation time (from several days to over a week).
As far as water analysis is concerned, whether it is water intended for human consumption, bathing water or spa water (…), the requirements in terms of microbiological safety are also very strict. The recent debate relating to Legionella has underlined the need to use methods that are quicker and/or easier to implement than the standardised reference methods.
To meet the requirements of analytical laboratories, manufacturers have developed and put on the market commercial methods that meet the constraints of industrial production; in other words, simpler, quicker and/or more economic than the classic reference methods. They are called “alternative analysis methods”, quick analysis methods, or more commonly "kits".
