The Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory (MASPHL) is requesting funding from PAR- 20-105 Laboratory Flexible Funding Model (LFFM) (U19) in order to maintain and enhance its testing capability across the Microbiology, Chemistry, and Radiochemistry disciplines. The MASPHL is committed to completing surveillance testing of human and animal food products and enhancing capacity for food defense. MASPHL is accredited to the ISO 17025 standard for nine methods at this time and has many more methods under an ISO-like quality management system umbrella. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MADPH) radiochemistry section will work in year one to establish protocols and enhance their quality management system to meet the ISO 17025 standard. In years 2-5, a radiochemistry sampling plan will be established and maintained. By maintaining the laboratory?s rigorous quality standards, both laboratory management and the FDA can be assured of the quality of the results generated at the MASPHL. Over the next five years, the MASPHL is committed to completing all required routine surveillance of manufactured food samples, animal food samples, and food defense assignments. All results will be reported to the ORA-LFFM within the expected timeframe outlined in the cooperative agreement guidance. The lab will successfully complete annual proficiency tests for all methods, and will attend all conference calls, webinars, and will participate in method validations and surveillance assignments as requested. A minimum of two people will attend the annual face to face meeting. Two laboratory analysts will attend the annual GenomeTrakr meeting.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health State Public Health Laboratory (MASPHL) is applying for funding under PAR-20-105, the Laboratory Flexible Funding Model (U19). By participating in projects related to routine surveillance of human and animal food products, Massachusetts will be contributing to a National Integrated Food Safety System. Routine sampling testing allows Massachusetts officials to assess the overall burden of pathogens and chemical contaminants in the food supply, and to respond quickly before there is human illness. MASPHL will also use the funding opportunity to enhance programs such as food defense which will allow Massachusetts to be able to respond to intentional or unintentional threats to the food supply. Lastly, Massachusetts residents will benefit from the funding opportunity as MASPHL is able to develop new capacity for the detection of Cyclospora in food products following outbreaks in 2019, and to assess the level of allergens in the food supply.
