Overview
ISO 10272-1:2017/Amd 1:2023 updates the horizontal detection method for Campylobacter spp. in the food chain. This amendment adds molecular confirmation and identification options for thermotolerant Campylobacter (notably C. jejuni, C. coli and C. lari), mandates the use of a growth supplement in Preston broth, and revises performance testing requirements for culture media. The standard retains culture-based workflows (mCCD agar, Bolton and Preston broth) with clarified incubation (microaerobic atmosphere at 41.5 °C) and biochemical/microscopy confirmation guidance.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Molecular confirmation: Annex D describes a probe-based multiplex real-time PCR targeting 16S rRNA for confirmation/identification of thermotolerant Campylobacter spp., including reagent and instrument guidance, PCR setup, and use of an internal amplification control (IPC-ntb2).
- Species identification: Annex E provides molecular methods as alternatives to biochemical tests; Annex F reports inter-laboratory study (ILS) results validating the PCR approach.
- Preston broth formulation: Amendment specifies components and preparation steps for Preston enrichment, including an antibiotic solution and a new growth supplement (sodium pyruvate, sodium metabisulfite, iron(II) sulfate) to improve recovery of some Campylobacter strains (notably C. coli).
- Culture media performance testing: Table B.1 and related clauses update productivity, selectivity and confirmation criteria, and list recommended control strains (WDCM numbers) and incubation criteria.
- Biochemical confirmation: Clarified interpretation times for indoxyl acetate and revised characterisation table for differentiating C. jejuni, C. coli and other species.
Practical applications
- Routine testing and surveillance of food products (poultry, dairy, ready-to-eat foods) and food-processing environments for Campylobacter contamination.
- Clinical or public-health laboratories for confirmation and species-level identification during outbreak investigations.
- Quality assurance and method validation in diagnostic and contract testing laboratories implementing ISO-compliant workflows.
- Method developers and manufacturers of culture media and molecular test kits who need to meet updated performance and composition requirements.
Who should use this standard
- Food microbiologists, laboratory managers, public health analysts, regulatory agencies, and test kit or culture media manufacturers involved in detection, confirmation and reporting of thermotolerant Campylobacter spp.
Related standards
- ISO 17995 (recovery considerations)
- ISO 11133 (media quality and growth/turbidity classification)
- ISO 22174 (quality of reagents for nucleic acid amplification)
Keywords: ISO 10272-1:2017/Amd 1:2023, Campylobacter detection, Preston broth growth supplement, multiplex real-time PCR, thermotolerant Campylobacter, food microbiology, culture media performance.
Open preview (PDF)Microbiology of the food chain — Horizontal method for detection and enumeration of Campylobacter spp. — Part 1: Detection method — Amendment 1: Inclusion of methods for molecular confirmation and identification of thermotolerant Campylobacter spp., the use of growth supplement in Preston broth and changes in the performance testing of culture media