Commonwealth of Virginia Division of Consolidated Laboratory ServicesFDA FERN Microbiology Cooperative Agreement Program PAR-09-215Purpose/Abstract The Virginia Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS) serves theCommonwealth of Virginia as the State laboratory providing essential testing in supportof foodborne disease surveillance and emergency outbreak response. Virginia DCLShas and continues to use both state and federal funds to strengthen and enhance itsability to rapidly and accurately provide laboratory testing services in support offoodborne outbreaks and product recalls. Despite Virginia's proven track record forproviding exceptional laboratory testing services through the participation in FERNsurveillance assignments, proficiency testing and method development initiativesstrengthening of the program is still needed. This proposal identifies key resourcesnecessary for DCLS to build upon its existing program in order to improve its capabilityand capacity to rapidly and accurately respond to issues of food safety and foodsecurity. Improvements in Virginia's laboratory through the strengthening of the FERNlaboratory scientific team will concomitantly position DCLS to provide comprehensivetesting services for statewide outbreaks and surge testing support for national outbreaksas requested by federal partners such as FDA and the FERN. With the requested grantfunds, DCLS proposes to hire key microbiological and molecular personnel to be trainedand dedicated to implementing FERN methods, to obtain essential analyticalinstrumentation and to purchase supplies to support FERN emergency outbreak andsurge capacity testing needs. DCLS agrees to participate in required training,surveillance and proficiency testing activities as requested by the FERN. DCLS willevaluate novel analytical methodologies to support and expand existing FERN methodsin order to improve sensitivity and specificity of pathogen detection and recovery. DCLSwill provide analytical testing services to FERN NPO through participation in surveillanceand food emergency outbreak testing. In the event of large-scale microbiologicalcontamination events affecting foods or food products, DCLS agrees to volunteer toassist the other cooperative agreement laboratories with performing selectedmicrobiological analyses of domestic and imported food samples collected and suppliedby the FDA or other government agencies through FDA. DCLS will performstandardized methods and generate quality controlled and assured analytical data incompliance with regulatory requirements as requested by FDA NPO. DCLS will alsoengage in studies aimed at the development, validation and matrix extension of methodsin collaboration with FERN NPO.1
