Regulatory Services Milk Lab

What's Inside

At Regulatory Services, we offer a variety of milk testing services for Kentucky’s dairy industry. In general, our services are limited to producer bulk tank samples and bulk unit samples from processors. Typically there is no fee associated with samples submitted to our lab for routine testing, provided the samples are from Kentucky producers, processors or allied industry representatives. Samples should be obtained and submitted to the lab by properly licensed milk samplers using approved milk sampling and sample handling procedures.

A detailed description of our testing services can be viewed at this link but in general our lab offers:

· Electronic instrument component analysis (fat, protein, lactose, solids)

· Milk component chemical analysis (fat, protein, solids)

· Milk freezing point depression (FPD)

· Somatic Cell Count (SCC) (both electronic instrument and direct microscopic method)*

· Standard Plate Bacteria Count (SPC)*

· Antibiotic testing*

*Fees may apply to these tests, see fee schedule below.

Milk samples being prepared for the monthly “check sample” program.

Regulatory Services’ milk lab also administers a monthly “check sample” program. Laboratories licensed by Regulatory Services are required to participate in this “check sample” program. Our lab staff performs milk chemistry analysis to obtain component results for these samples. These blind “check samples” are then shipped to each licensed lab. Licensed technicians at each lab perform tests on the sample set, submit results to Regulatory Services and are subsequently provided a performance report. If you are not a licensed laboratory and would like to participate in our check sample program, please contact our office.

Other milk testing services provided by the College of Agriculture include milk culturing services provided by the Livestock Disease and Diagnostic Center (LDDC). Please visit the LDDC website for more information on what they provide.

“Regulatory Testing” or PMO Related Testing Services
Dairy producers and processors are required by the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) and its supporting documents to conduct certain milk tests on a routine basis. The tests are food safety related and required to ensure consumers a safe supply of dairy products. The milk lab at Regulatory Services is an approved Interstate Milk Shipments (IMS) listed facility (IMS Lab # 21011) for select tests. Our lab provides these testing services for a fee. These services are provided to assist Kentucky producers and processors with compliance with the PMO and its supporting documents. As with other types of official milk samples, only licensed and approved milk samplers may submit these samples to our lab. The fee schedule for these tests is outlined below.

Test Description	Fee
Milk Component (fat, protein, ...)	No Charge
Antibiotic (Charm SL)	$8.00
Petrifilm Aerobic Count (SPC)	$8.00
ESCC (Electronic Somatic Cell Count)	$8.00
DMSCC (Direct Microscopic Somatic Cell Count)	$8.00
Freezing Point Depression (FPD) From Cryoscope	$8.00
“Section 6” testing (also known as “monthly regulatory sample” includes Antibiotic, SPC, SCC and FPD)	$28.00

An appropriate completed form should accompany all samples:

Other Types of Dairy Testing
Occasionally we receive requests to perform testing that exceeds our capacity or our capabilities. When this occurs, we refer these requests to a list of alternative laboratories. This dairy laboratory resource listing was compiled by Regulatory Services personnel at the request of the Kentucky Milk Handlers Advisory Board. It is intended to provide Kentucky dairy industry representatives with a basic list of alternative dairy laboratories along with a general description of services provided by each listed lab.

This listing is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a comprehensive reference of all US dairy labs. A lab’s appearance on this list does not constitute an endorsement. Information regarding specific testing procedures and costs should be directed to each specific lab. Suggested amendments to this document should be directed to Regulatory Services’ Milk Program at E-Mail or 859-257-2785.