Large scale events like the Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig Explosion of 2010 and infant formula being purposelyfortified with melamine in China cause great concern and heighten the level of awareness among Americans.Local, state, and national response mechanisms are in place to quickly respond to these situations and helpmitigate unforeseen consequences while protecting public and environmental health. Unfortunately, responseassets at every level can quickly become overwhelmed and may require surge or redundant capacity. The Foodand Drug Administration Food Emergency Response Program (FDA FERN) is one system in place that iscomprised of both federal and state laboratories that bring personnel, supplies, equipment, and expertisetogether to enable food and food product analyses during these situations. Many laboratories are volunteerlaboratories, but 14 member laboratories have entered cooperative agreements and are now referred to as FERNCAP Laboratories. The Arkansas Department of Health-Arkansas Public Health Laboratory (ADH-PHL)became a FERN CAP Laboratory in 2009 and has been working over the past 1.5 years to provide the necessaryfoundation for launching the Arkansas FERN Chemistry Laboratory. This newly formed laboratory is part of rdthe 3 generation of CAP laboratories.ADH-PHL provides a solid laboratory environment for maintaining the Arkansas FERN Chemistry Laboratory.Dedicated laboratory space, quality management systems, and additional surge staff, instrument, and space areavailable when needs arise. Laboratory systems are accredited through several internationally recognizedaccrediting authorities, and the entire laboratory staff brings great experience in the four key project areas ofGC-MS, LC-MS, ICP-MS, and ELISA. ADH-PHL also partners with other federal response networks managedby the Centers for Disease Control and the Environmental Protection Agency, namely the Laboratory ResponseNetwork (LRN) and the Environmental Laboratory Response Network (ELRN), respectively. This internalcollaboration brings together a mix of diverse skill sets along with varying degrees of expertise and experiencein a way that promotes interaction and program development. These relationships are crucial for mitigatinglarge scale crises where human and environmental health is threatened.The Arkansas FERN Chemistry Laboratory has met 100% of the goals identified in the first 2 year cooperativeagreement. The laboratory is fully staffed, has obtained, installed and trained on FERN instrumentation, hasworked with FERN partners to successfully validate FERN testing methods focusing on GC-MS, LC-MS, ICP-MS, and ELISA, has participated and passed all proficiency tests provided by FDA, has exercised its responsecapabilities, and participates in technical and programmatic meetings, which include conference calls. Thislaboratory continuously focuses to improve emergency response and preparedness efforts and is working withFDA to find ways to enhance and expand FERN response initiatives. FERN analysts are actively evaluatingdiverse food matrix assignments provided by the FDA. These matrices include powdered milk, freeze-driedtuna, spinach, mandarin oranges, pineapple juice, chocolate syrup, soy-based baby formula, snack cakes, energydrinks, drinkable yogurt, balsamic vinaigrette salad dressing, catfish, and spirits.The project plan for this cooperative agreement continues to bolster emergency response and preparednessinitiatives by assessing analytical capacity, cross-training staff to provide additional surge support, proficiencytesting and exercising methodologies, and participating in various training forums including meetings andconference calls reviewing programmatic and technical information. Training sessions provided by FDA andother FERN partners will also be used to help stay abreast of the newest technology being used by FERN. Theproject plan also includes provisions to help expand and enhance FERN response initiatives. Matrix evaluationsand analyte extension studies will continue as staff cross-train with and exercise validated methods.Quantitative capabilities and technology evaluations are being explored as a way to help prepare the FERNprogram for future responses and requests. To help streamline reporting of data, unique data management andprocessing tools are being developed to help expedite final reporting. All of these measures will benefit theFERN national response program as new information is disseminated through educational courses and lectures.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) brings personnel, supplies, equipment, and expertise together to enable food and food product analyses during large scale food events. The Arkansas Department of Health-Arkansas Public Health Laboratory entered an FDA Cooperative Agreement 1.5 years ago to build a FERN Chemistry Laboratory. All the goals of this cooperative agreement have been achieved, and a fully functional Arkansas FERN Chemistry Laboratory exists to support national, state, and local responses. This new project looks to expand and enhance FERN initiatives by targeting two key areas: 1) emergency response and preparedness activities and 2) growth and expansion efforts.
