VDH Laboratory Food Testing Capability and Capacity Enhancement Project

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Project Abstract Summary The Vermont Department of Health Laboratory (VDHL) is located at 359 South Park Drive in Colchester, VT. The mission of VDHL is to promote health and prevent disease by providing quality analytical services, leadership in laboratory science and support to public health and environmental activities. VDHL, as the primary servicing laboratory, is committed to strengthening the food safety system in Vermont by supporting the regulatory and surveillance activities of the Vermont Department of Health Food and Lodging Program (VDHFL), which holds the State Manufactured Food Regulatory Program contract with FDA. To support these activities, VDHL must maintain and enhance its ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, obtained in September 2016, to ensure all test data generated is valid and defensible. VDHL is requesting funds in the amount of $1,884,472 to be used from July 2020 through June 2025 to maintain and enhance its ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, increase its food sampling and testing capacity, develop a validated method for gamma emitting radionuclides in human food, and report all collected surveillance data to FDA. Some specific uses of the funds include hiring two new Public Health Laboratory Scientists, buying key equipment, traveling to face-to-face meetings to share cutting edge ideas, and verifying new methods through special projects. Through this partnership, an increase in the number and type of laboratory analyses conducted will lead to enhanced protection of the food supply through an integrated food safety system.