Lab Food Safety Testing Program

Abstract
The Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory (MASPHL) is requesting funding from PAR-
20-105 Laboratory Flexible Funding Model (LFFM) (U19) in order to maintain and enhance its
testing capability across the Microbiology, Chemistry, and Radiochemistry disciplines. The
MASPHL is committed to completing surveillance testing of human and animal food products
and enhancing capacity for food defense. MASPHL is accredited to the ISO 17025 standard for
nine methods at this time and has many more methods under an ISO-like quality management
system umbrella. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MADPH) radiochemistry
section will work in year one to establish protocols and enhance their quality management
system to meet the ISO 17025 standard. In years 2-5, a radiochemistry sampling plan will be
established and maintained. By maintaining the laboratory’s rigorous quality standards, both
laboratory management and the FDA can be assured of the quality of the results generated at
the MASPHL. Over the next five years, the MASPHL is committed to completing all required
routine surveillance of manufactured food samples, animal food samples, and food defense
assignments. All results will be reported to the ORA-LFFM within the expected timeframe
outlined in the cooperative agreement guidance. The lab will successfully complete annual
proficiency tests for all methods, and will attend all conference calls, webinars, and will
participate in method validations and surveillance assignments as requested. A minimum of
two people will attend the annual face to face meeting. Two laboratory analysts will attend the
annual GenomeTrakr meeting.