Analytical Track 4: Whole Genome Sequencing Abstract/Summary The Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory (MASPHL) is requesting funding for Microbiology Analytical Track 4, Whole Genome Sequencing, from PAR-20-105, Laboratory Flexible Funding Model (U19). MASPHL has been a member of PulseNet for more than 20 years, and an unfunded member of GenomeTrakr for the past three years. To date, MASPHL has submitted 4,164 isolate sequences to the PulseNet database, and 12 sequences to GenomeTrakr. Among those sent to PulseNet, 20 were from food or environmental sources. Although the numbers of pathogens isolated from food samples has been low, any that are isolated have been sequenced in accordance with appropriate procedures and submitted to the national databases. By participating in this analytical track, MASPHL will have the resources necessary to focus on submitting all bacterial pathogens isolated from human and animal food products. As written in previous tracks, MASPHL has begun to redefine its relationship with the Manufactured Food Regulatory Program (MFRP) officials in the food protection program (FPP) and has begun to develop a relationship with the Animal Food Regulatory Program (AFRP) officials in the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR). In building these relationships, MASPHL has been able to enhance the quality of the human food products sampled and to focus on collecting higher risk foods that are more likely to be adulterated. And by increasing the MFRP sampling to 250 samples, and adding 100 AFRP samples, MASPHL is well positioned to identify and sequence many more pathogens than in previous years, and therefore enhance the whole national integrated food safety system.
