MAINTENANCE AND ENHANCEMENT OF ISO/IEC 17025 ACCREDITATION AND WHOLE GENOME SEQUENCING FOR STATE FOOD TESTING LABORATORIES

The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) had 18 biological methodsISO 17025 accredited in August of 2018. ISO 17025 accreditation supports a strongmanagement and technical structure in the laboratory. Accreditation has enhanced thelaboratory in being recognized as an officially competent food testing laboratory withdefensible results. Surveillance analysis is conducted on FDA products using the ISOaccredited methods. The WVDA is seeking support through the FDA cooperativeagreement to maintain and expand the methods in their scope of ISO 17025accreditation. Listeria monocytogenes has been a pathogen identified in numerous foodborneoutbreaks. Surveillance analysis will be conducted on FDA products throughout theprogram year for Listeria monocytogenes in deli salads, fresh cut produce and herbs.The FDA Biological Analytical Manual (BAM) cultural Listeria monocytogenes methodwill be added to the scope of accreditation in the program year. Sample results will beentered into the laboratory information management system (LIMS), and automaticallyuploaded into eLEXNET to share with other regulatory partners. The WVDA Microbiology Laboratory has been a participating member in theFood Emergency Response Network (FERN) since 2005 and actively tests for variouspathogenic bacteria in foods, environmental samples, and food contact surfaces. Since2010, the WVDA has been a FSIS cooperative agreement recipient to participate inFERN directed activities such as surveillance testing, method development, exercisesand proficiencies. In 2016, the WVDA Microbiology Laboratory was awarded the Level 1cooperative agreement to conduct microbiological and chemical analysis. ISOaccreditation has supported the efforts to have legally defensible data for FERNresponse. With inclusion in the ISO/IEC 17025 cooperative agreement program the WVDAcommits to maintaining ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, expanding the scope ofaccreditation, and conducting surveillance activities with FDA products which will aid inprotecting the nation?s food supply.