How much prior notice should IPP give an establishment prior to collecting a sample?

• A. Long enough to allow them to hold product, but not long enough to allow them to alter their processes
• B. No more than 24 hours
• C. No more than 1 week
• D. Long enough to allow them to alter their production schedule, but not long enough to allow them to ship the product

Answer: (A)

This question centers on keeping the sampling process fair and representative. You want enough notice to allow the establishment to hold the product that will be tested, so the sample reflects what is actually in production and is not released while testing is happening. But you must not give so much notice that they can change their processes specifically to influence the test results. In other words, the notice should enable a proper hold without enabling process changes that could bias the outcome. The best approach is to provide enough time to hold the product for testing, while not giving them a window to alter production or shipping tactics to evade detection.