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.