Specification Sheet.pdf

United States Department of Agriculture

Research, Education, and Economics

Agricultural Research Service

USDA ARS APDL BARC-East 10300 Baltimore Avenue

Building 200, Room 9 Beltsville, Maryland 20705-2350

USDA is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer

Specification Sheet

The USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory (APDL) is requesting granular pepsin suitable for use in the Artificial Digestion method to test for Trichinella in pork. We require a granular, rather than a powder formulation to reduce the risk for laboratory personnel who handle this material on a routine basis. Powdered formulations generate airborne particles that cause irritation and allergy. Our project requires the daily use of pepsin. We use ~1 kg per day when operating at full capacity.

Salient Qualifications of Pepsin for the Magnetic Stirrer Digestion Assay for Trichinella spiralis larvae in pork:

Activity: 1:10,000 activity Quantity: 70 kg

Formulation: Granular Formulation- Powder form is easily airborne and would cause undue risk of inhalation.

Specifications/Requirement:

• Granular formulation

• LOO (4 hr.Nac./60°C) 0.0-4.0%

• pH - 2% solution 3.0-4.5

• Pepsin Activity 10,000- 12,000 FCC units/mg

• Water Activity 0.0 - <0.75

• Salmonella sp. Negative

• E. coli Negative

• Aerobic Plate Count <100 - 10,000 CFU/g

Estimated Period of Performance: 24 April 2023 – August 31, 2023 The supply is expected to be delivered after contract is awarded, arriving as soon as possible.