Minnesota Department of AgricultureFDA Food Safety and Security Monitoring Project (U18), FERN Chemical Laboratories Abstract for RFA-FD-10-003ABSTRACTThe Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) Laboratory Services Division is submitting an application for consideration under theFDA Food Safety and Security Monitoring Project (U18), FERN Chemical Laboratories, as announced in RFD-FD-10-003.Facility name and address: Most responsible individual:Minnesota Department of Agriculture Gary Horvath, Laboratory DirectorLaboratory Services Division Phone: 651-201-6563601 Robert Street NorthSt. Paul, MN 55155 PD/PI:Main Phone: 651-201-6010 Michelle Campbell, Chemistry Section ManagerMain Fax: 651-201-6106 Phone: 651-201-6575The MDA Laboratory has been a FERN microbiology and chemistry laboratory since 2004. The MDA Laboratory is well-positioned tocarry out the goals of the FDA FERN chemistry cooperative agreement program in terms of the experience and expertise of its staff,facilities, equipment, and through its on-going participation in FERN training, surveillance, proficiency testing, and cooperativeagreement programs activities.A Research Plan with project narrative and supporting documentation is submitted in the application package addressing:Four key project areas outlined in the program announcement Use of Gas Chromatograph - Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis for the screening and identification of poisons, toxic substances, and unknown compounds in foods; Use of Liquid Chromatograph - Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis for the screening and identification of poisons, toxic substances, and unknown compounds in foods; Use of Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometry for the screening and identification of heavy metals ands toxic elements in food; and, Use of Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and other antibody-based analysis for the screening and identification of unknown toxins in foods.Specific issues addressed in the Research and Related Other Project Information portion of the announcement include: Laboratory Facilities and Other Resources Laboratory Personnel Qualifications Laboratory Management Practices Laboratory Expertise in Analyzing Foods for Unknown Contaminants Equipment Budget Projection Sample Analysis CommitmentThe research plan and associated documentation responds to each item outlined above, and demonstrates how the MDA ChemistryLaboratory will contribute toward meeting the objectives of the FDA Food Safety and Security Monitoring Project (U18) for FERNChemical Laboratories. The expected benefit of this cooperative agreement to FDA FERN is to leverage the considerable experienceand expertise of the MDA staff, and the significant laboratory facilities and equipment resources available to FERN through MDA. MDAlaboratory staff will be able to carry out FERN surveillance assignments, surge capacity response, proficiency tests, as well as, performmethod development, validation and enhancement activities for chemical contaminants in a variety of food matrices.1
Minnesota Department of Agriculture Project Summary / Abstract FDA Food Safety and Security Monitoring Project (U18), FERN Chemical Laboratories RFA-FD-10-003 PROJECT NARRATIVE In accordance with the instructions provided in the RFA-FD-10-003 announcement, the MDA Chemistry Laboratory's Research Plan / Project Narrative is submitted as one attachment, not to exceed 12 pages, under Research Strategy in the Research Plan Attachments of the PHS 398 Research Plan document. 1
