A Pioneer in Aseptic and Representative Sampling For the Dairy and Liquid Food Industries

Since 1983, QualiTru Sampling Systems (formerly known as QMI) has been the pioneering leader in the science of aseptic and representative sampling. The company is widely recognized for its expertise and commitment to building awareness of aseptic sampling as a critical means of ensuring consumer health and food safety. For over four decades, QualiTru has been helping the dairy, beverages, and liquid food industries produce safe, quality products through innovative sampling technologies that are easy-to-use, versatile, and cost-effective.

QualiTru has built a strong and trusted reputation for expertise, quality, education, and training over the past 40+ years.

Darrell Bigalke

Darrell Bigalke

QualiTru Sampling Systems, formerly known as Quality Management Inc. (QMI), was founded in 1983 by Darrell Bigalke. After ten years with Ecolab, he seized the opportunity to carry the QualiTru technology to support his dairy food safety consulting business. Drawing from his extensive knowledge of the dynamics of microbial contamination, he played a central role in helping shape the establishment and adoption of the new testing standards in the dairy industry after two dairy-related tragedies that occurred in 1985.

Mr. Bigalke focused his new company on the singular mission of promoting aseptic sample testing for the dairy industry, extending far beyond final product testing, which is limited in identifying in-process risks, such as biofilms, and cannot lead to process improvements.

Today, QualiTru’s systems are considered the most trusted method for gathering aseptic and representative milk samples for testing and are used by thousands of large dairy farms, haulers, and food processing plants across the U.S. and in over 30 countries worldwide.

Global Presence

QualiTru provides a unique combination of aseptic and representative sampling that is not offered by anyone else.

QualiTru is investing in new markets, technologies, partnerships, and employees to help the dairy and liquid food industries produce the safest and best quality food. The company has increasingly partnered with universities to research sampling best practices and conducted field case studies to enable farmers and quality professionals to obtain the most accurate and representative process data. The website emphasizes science-backed solutions, providing invaluable resources for dairy, beverages, and liquid food industry customers.

Despite its growing success as a global entity over these past decades, everyone working at QualiTru today has remained steadfast to Mr. Bigalke’s original vision and mission: to protect consumers by providing the equipment and expertise for accurate and representative sampling that helps the dairy and liquid food industries produce safe, high-quality products.

QualiTru Sampling System
QualiTru is a trusted partner

QualiTru is a Trusted Partner

Partnerships are an integral part of our success. We are driven to meet industry sampling needs by partnering with other subject matter experts (SMEs) and distribution partners. We help our customers and partners meet their needs for product quality and safety, public health, and business goals by providing our sampling expertise and solutions to the dairy, beverages, and other liquid food industries.

QualiTru supports a wide variety of industries to produce safe and quality products.

Standards and Compliance

QualiTru’s products are proudly made in the USA and comply with several industry standards and regulations.

  • FDA Compliant
  • PMO Methods Published
  • NCIMS Approved
  • 3-A Sanitary Standards Certified

QualiTru Sampling Systems’ technologies are also directly cited in Section 6 of the FDA PMO, as the only inline aseptic sampling system approved for the required collection of representative samples directly from farm bulk milk tanks or silos prior to the milk being transported for processing.

3-A and made in the USA

QualiTru’s Journey Through the Years

With over four decades of experience, the Bigalke family remains committed to continuing to meet the evolving needs of the dairy, beverages, and liquid food industries. All of us at QualiTru are enthusiastically looking forward to the future and are committed to serving the needs of our customers and partners.

1973

The Klenzade division of Ecolab sold the “Tru-Test” sampler that Ned Galloway had developed.

1981

Darrell Bigalke took over the sale of the Aseptic Sampler from Capsule Labs (Ecolab).

1983

Capsule Labs was dissolved. Ned Galloway and Darrell signed a royalty contract and QMI was incorporated.

1985

Two dairy related foodborne illness outbreaks, occurring in rapid succession, spurs scientific innovation and leadership with Bigalke playing a central role in shaping the adoption of new testing and process monitoring standards in the industry.

1988

QMI started promoting the Safe-Septum to the Biotech industry.

1993

Biotest started assembling and sterilizing QMI Ports.

1995

QMI received 3-A Sanitary Standards 63-04 (Sanitary Fittings) certificate – the highest industry level standards for integrity and hygiene in processing equipment and systems.

1997

QMI & Safe-Septum were trademarked.

2003

The inline sampler received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) & National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments (NCIMS) approval.
Aseptic sampling of vertical and horizontal milk tanks received the FDA & NCIMS approval.

2005

The Continuous Flow Sampler & Method was patented.

2007

The Method of Fluid Sampling, “Tamper Evident Device” was patented.
QMI Manufactured Sampling Bags.

2008

The QMI Aseptic Sampler received FDA and NCIMS approval for inclusion to the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) version 2007.

2011

Aseptic sampling of farm bulk & silo tanks received FDA and NCIMS approval.

2016

QMI rebranded as QualiTru Sampling Systems.

2016-17

The TruDraw Single Sampler was introduced.

2022

ISO 9001:2015 Certified Company
As part of QualiTru’s focus on continuous improvement for exceptional customer satisfaction, we are proud to have earned ISO 9001:2015 certification for aseptic sampling products, systems, and services for the liquid food industry.

January 2023

TS7 Adjustable Tanker Port with Security Lid specifically designed for dairy and other liquid food tanker trucks was introduced.

March 2023

University of Minnesota Honors QualiTru Founder Darrell Bigalke with the Food Safety and Food Quality Science Award in His Name.
This annual dairy science scholarship, intended to help the next generation of students from University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine or College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences further pursue key issues in dairy science and food quality and safety.

April 2023

QualiTru Sampling Systems 40th Anniversary
Commemorating 40 years of innovations that have helped the dairy and liquid food industries produce safe, high-quality products over the decades.

August 2024

QualiTru Launches the TruStream Drum Port
The TruStream Drum Port is a testament to our commitment to excellence, offering a reliable and efficient method for aseptic sampling. This groundbreaking product was developed by QualiTru Sampling Systems and tested in collaboration with the Quebec Maple Syrup Producers and is designed to revolutionize the way liquid samples are extracted from barrels, drums, and totes, ensuring maximum accuracy, employee safety, and operation efficiency.