Microsoft Word - Candidates for 2018 ERP of the Year

259

General comments about the method: ER 1

The method is very well described in the various documents.

ER 2 ER 3 ER 4 ER 5 ER 6 ER 7 ER 8

NA

The method is much simpler compared to traditional method and the space savings in the use of Petrifilm are significant as compared to traditional agar plates.

No additional comments

The method is really useful due to it significantly reduces test times

Well written and easy to follow

none

1. Page 7, line 17. There should be references directing the analyst to methods for the further identification of yeast/fungal isolates. They should be ISO, BAM, MLG and others.

Pros/Strengths of the Manuscript: ER 1

Good description of the sample preparation protocols. Efficient description of the collab study workflow and organization. Tables are very useful for summarizing the results.

ER 2 ER 3 ER 4 ER 5 ER 6 ER 7 ER 8

Very well written.

The Manuscript is well written and the information flow is in an understandable order.

Generally well written.

It is a simple method for working Very thoroughly written and detailed

Well written in general.

It is well written. Cons/Weaknesses of the Manuscript: ER 1

Very minor edits: page 7, line 25, reports lab 5 as one of the 4 labs with deviations, but in table 1 page 13, lab 6 is marked as the lab showing deviations for ground beef??? Reading through the report and the pack insert, it remains unclear if the minimum incubation is 48 hours or 46 hours since it is stipulated that incubation shall be 48+/-2 hours but reading is required at 48 hours: is minimal time of 48 hours of incubation is required? Table 1 describes which data sets were not used in the statistical analysis; however, there are not indications as such in tables 2 – 9 where raw data is presented. It may help to identify the labs who’s data sets were excluded in each table using a superscript letter. Need to elaborate on the issues and possible causes of those issues of laboratories whose data were not used in the study. Page 1, line 24 states "unpaired study design" but page 4 line, line 22 states "paired study design". Please clarify in the manuscript. Page 3, line 29: Clarify that after lyophilization dilutions were done with sterile NFDM powder or reconstituted NFDM. Page 4, line 38: Increase font size. Page 4, line47: Justify or omit reverse transformed mean difference here and in Tables 2014.1 and 2014.2.[Continued] Page 7, line 24: Insert "valid" before both "data" words. Page 7, line 33: Omit Figs 1-4 which are somewhat redundant. Add statement about acceptability of Youden plots. Page 7, line 37: Remove "reverse transformed difference" here and in Tables 2014.1 &.2. Page 8, lines 31-33: State the repeatability SD values supporting this assertion. Page 8, lines 44-46: State the repeatability SD values supporting this assertion. NA no None

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ER 4

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03/12/2018