The Laboratory Services Division of the Colorado Department of Public Health is aFERN chemistry, microbiological and radiological member; is currently receivingfunding under this cooperative agreement program and has increased local and nationalanalytical response capability and capacity. The Laboratory Services division isrequesting $2,000,000 over the next five years to continue its efforts to expand thecurrent database of matrices screened for toxins, poisons and adulterants. The laboratorywill also further method validation by augmenting the FERN GC/MS analyte list with theaddition of common street drugs and adapting the FERN ICP/MS method to a similar butdifferent instrument.
The Laboratory Services Division recognizes the importance of protecting the food supply. Much effort is currently underway in the Department to respond to incidents of food-borne illness, both to test suspect foods and to follow-up on those who became ill. The Laboratory is excited about continuing to increase capacity and capability to detect chemical contamination in food supplies.
