PAR-20-105 Laboratory Flexible Funding Model (LFFM) (U19) Radiochemistry Capability/Capacity Development Track Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services Project Summary Principal Investigators: Christopher Waggener, Ph.D. Project Director: Shane Wyatt Project Summary The Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS) is the public health laboratory for the Commonwealth of Virginia and offers a wide variety of laboratory testing services for state and federal agencies, local governments and other states in support of public health, environmental protection, and emergency response. DCLS provides surveillance and emergency response testing of food samples for the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) Food Safety Program by offering nearly comprehensive testing of food samples by microbiology, chemistry, and radiochemical methods. DCLS is a long-term participating partner in the FDA Cooperative Agreement Program (CAP) and is capable of providing screening for gamma and alpha/beta emitting radionuclides. DCLS is also able to quantitate for alpha and beta radiation emission. DCLS proposes to expand its capacity for the detection and quantitation of alpha particle emitting isotopes by purchasing a new alpha detector, implementing a method for their detection and participation in proficiency testing to prove competency. Participation by DCLS in this analytical track will ensure its capability, and expand its capacity, to act as the primary response laboratory for food radiochemistry testing in the Commonwealth of Virginia and support the FERN program in large scale events.