Programme Description
The DairyChek ILCP programme has been developed over many years to provide proficiency samples to cover the range of internationally traded Dairy Products.

Schedule & Samples Description
Proficiency samples in the DairyChek Programme are despatched each month, with different product groups despatched to different schedules:

• Butter Chemistry - Monthly
• Butter Microbiology - Alternate months
• Milk Powder Chemistry - Alternate months
• Milk Powder Microbiology - Alternate months
• Milk Powder Functional Testing - 4 per year
• Vitamins, Micronutrients - 4 per year
• Anhydrous Milkfat Chemistry (AMF) - Alternate months
• Cheese Chemistry - Alternate months
• Cheese Microbiology - Alternate months
• Casein Chemistry - Alternate months
• Casein Microbiology - Alternate months
• Caseinate Chemistry - Alternate months
• Caseinate Microbiology - Alternate months
• Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC) Chemistry - Alternate months
• Whey Protein Concentrate (WPC) Microbiology - Alternate months
• Milk Protein Concentrate (MPC) - Alternate months

Performance Reporting & Evaluation
Participants are given 14 calendar days to analyse samples and return results. Reports are e-mailed within 3 working days. By working to a predetermined timeline, all laboratories' results can be pooled and statistically processed, with very quick turn-around time.

The reports provide information about the data pool of participating laboratories, the individual laboratory result as compared to the Assigned (Median) Value, a histogram showing distribution of all data, and a run chart for tracking historical performance. The statistics used are a robust, well-proven approach.

A rating is given as an interpretation of performance, using set criteria based on a normalised difference value, and bias. A score of Good, OK or Alert is issued for every test.

Annually we prepare an industry summary report. This includes a review of the summarised data for each test for reproducibility, occurrence of outliers, appropriateness of performance limits, and any testing issues that may have arisen (methodology influence). We also prepare summarised individual laboratory reports.

Secondary Reference Samples
A range of reference materials are available with known data values, prepared from the datasets of the Proficiency Testing. These are used by laboratories as a benchmark for internal quality control and training.

Timetable - 2008/2009