# Enhancing the Capacity and Capability of Human Food and Environmental Testing Laboratory at the Texas Department of State Health Services: Microbiology Human Food Product Testing

> **NIH FDA U19** · TEXAS STATE DEPT OF HEALTH SERVICES · 2020 · $193,680

## Abstract

Project Summary 
Discipline A Microbiology, Track 2 Human Food Testing 
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Laboratory Services Section (LSS) works 
in conjunction with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention (CDC), and the state regulatory body, DSHS Consumer Protection Division (CPD), to 
ensure food and food products in Texas are safe. As a part of an integrated food safety system, 
the goals of the LSS are to facilitate and improve food testing surveillance, inspection, and 
investigation in the State of Texas. 
 With the funding provided by this grant, LSS will maintain its partnership with the DSHS 
CPD, the State Manufactured Food Regulatory agency in Texas. CPD will act as the sampling 
organization and develop an annual sampling plan for the LSS to test approximately 500 samples 
per year for this project over the 5-year period of the grant. The sampling and testing matrices can 
be adjusted to address the needs to test relevant commodities and hazards each year. With the 
funds, LSS will maintain and expand its capability and capacity of screening and confirming 
microorganisms, maintain current ISO 17025 accreditations, and expand its scope to include 
Yersinia enterocolitica and Cronobacter species. 
 The laboratory will use current standardized validated methods for various food pathogen 
detection and identification. Current tests detect and identify Salmonella (200; # tests per month), 
Listeria (250), Campylobacter (75), E. coli O157:H7 (100), Non-O157 STECs (75), 
Staphylococcal Enterotoxin (50), and others using BAX® Real-Time PCR, VIDAS, API, VITEK 2 
instruments, etc. and culture methods following the FDA Bacteriological Analytical Manual. LSS 
will continue to follow FDA guidance for proper sampling and laboratory data documentation and 
participate in annual proficiency tests (PT) for work performed under this project. LSS will stay 
committed to its 20.88 agreement with the FDA and participate in FDA requested assignments 
and remain an active member of FERN by attending meetings and supporting FERN activities. 
 With the support of this grant, DSHS LSS and CPD will be able to continue to provide and 
expand food safety surveillance to ensure the safety of human food and food products in Texas.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10174175
- **Project number:** 1U19FD007080-01
- **Recipient organization:** TEXAS STATE DEPT OF HEALTH SERVICES
- **Principal Investigator:** Rachel C. Lee
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** FDA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $193,680
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10174175

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10174175, Enhancing the Capacity and Capability of Human Food and Environmental Testing Laboratory at the Texas Department of State Health Services: Microbiology Human Food Product Testing (1U19FD007080-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10174175. Licensed CC0.

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