Building Laboratory Capacity/capability - Accreditation to Iso/iec 17025:2005

Abstract:The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets has an expansive foodsafety inspection and regulatory laboratory testing program. The New York State FoodLaboratory, a division within the Department of Agriculture and Markets, is New YorkState's primary food safety laboratory and is accredited to the ISO/IEC 17025:2005standard and additional criteria set by the AOAC-I ALACC. The New York State FoodLaboratory has comprehensive testing programs for foodborne pathogens and chemicalresidues/toxic elements in food and beverages. If funded by the FDA the New YorkState Food Laboratory will significantly expand laboratory capacity and capabilitythrough the following; expand the number of methods and technologies within our scopeof accreditation, support training of laboratory staff, provide additional staff resources tothe laboratory QA/QC office, and improve laboratory systems for data capture andreporting. We will focus laboratory program enhancements to programs that directlysupport testing of manufactured foods that are produced, sold and/or distributed in NewYork State. In addition the key personnel on this proposal are committed to mentoringother laboratories who seek accreditation to the ISO/IEC 17025:2005 standard.