WSDA's Food Safety and Consumer Services Laboratory (also known as the Microbiology Laboratory) provides analytical support and data to the State regulatory agencies, our Federal partners U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA) and the agricultural community. The testing conducted at the Microbiology Laboratory Program supports WSDA's mission to protect public health, Washington's food supply, the agriculture industry and the environment. Food and environmental samples are provided by WSDA's Food Safety and Animal Feed programs and FDA's Food Emergency Response Network (FERN).
There are four sections under the Food Safety and Consumer Services Laboratory:
In addition, the laboratory maintains an FDA-certified State Laboratory Evaluation Officer (LEO) who regulate outside milk laboratories in Washington for antibiotic and microbial testing. Our laboratory analyzes dairy products, ready-to-eat foods, produce, animal feed and environmental samples.When there is a food emergency (food-borne illness), WSDA's Food Safety & Consumer Services Laboratory responds and provides rapid and defensible data to support regulators and epidemiologists in their quest to resolve the emergency. As funding permits, the laboratory offers internship opportunities to students and recent college graduates.The FSCS Laboratory has been ISO/IEC 17025 accredited through A2LA (Certificate Number 3245.01) since 2011. Since 2009, we have been awarded several U.S. FDA grants: Food Emergency Response Network (FERN), Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards (MFRPS) and Animal Feed Regulatory Program Standards (AFRPS). We have also received partial funding support from the FDA Rapid Response Team (RRT) grant.
- State Central Dairy Lab
- State Central Food Microbiology Lab
- State Central Animal Feed Lab
- FERN & Research Lab
In addition, the laboratory maintains an FDA-certified State Laboratory Evaluation Officer (LEO) who regulate outside milk laboratories in Washington for antibiotic and microbial testing. Our laboratory analyzes dairy products, ready-to-eat foods, produce, animal feed and environmental samples.When there is a food emergency (food-borne illness), WSDA's Food Safety & Consumer Services Laboratory responds and provides rapid and defensible data to support regulators and epidemiologists in their quest to resolve the emergency. As funding permits, the laboratory offers internship opportunities to students and recent college graduates.The FSCS Laboratory has been ISO/IEC 17025 accredited through A2LA (Certificate Number 3245.01) since 2011. Since 2009, we have been awarded several U.S. FDA grants: Food Emergency Response Network (FERN), Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards (MFRPS) and Animal Feed Regulatory Program Standards (AFRPS). We have also received partial funding support from the FDA Rapid Response Team (RRT) grant.