South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control Laboratory Flexible Funding Model Grant Submission

SC-DHEC PHL-ISO Summary The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC-DHEC), Public Health Laboratory (PHL), serves as the state public health laboratory working towards improving the quality of life for South Carolinians by protecting and promoting the health of the public and environment. The PHL Food Microbiology Laboratory has maintained the ability to test for foodborne pathogens and food quality indicator organisms for over 40 years and in 2016 achieved ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation and has remained accredited since that time. During this cooperative agreement, the Food Microbiology Laboratory will maintain ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation by remaining compliant with requirements set forth by our accrediting body and by maintaining a quality management system that addresses and conforms to all elements of ISO/IEC 17025 standards by performing internal audits, management reviews, proficiency testing, and quality system improvements. Through a partnership with the state Manufactured Food Retail Program Standards (MFRPS) programs, and the state Animal Food Retail Product Program Standards (AFRPS) program the Food Microbiology Laboratory will participate in the enhanced surveillance with a total of 500 samples being analyzed for human food and animal food products. Preparedness for food defense response will be enhanced through the collection of 50 samples for analysis for Bacillus anthracis and Yersinia pestis. The performance of whole genome sequencing on 400 isolates will contribute to growing knowledge and understanding of microbial ecology and diversity. The sharing of this data generated through routine surveillance activities will allow the Food and Drug Administration access to our data for enforcement activities. The fact that this data will be generated in an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory will streamline analytical review and allow the FDA to rapidly respond and enforce regulatory compliance. These projects will serve as a foundation to strengthen and improve the FDA's efforts to prevent foodborne illness and minimize exposures in order to build upon a nationally integrated laboratory science system and equips partner laboratories with additional resources to increase sample throughput capacity within the state.