Discipline C: Radiochemistry (Track 1, 2 years 1-5) Abstract: The Nevada State Public Health Laboratory (NSPHL) seeks to maintain existing radiochemistry developmental testing methods while broadening the scope by offering new FDA/FERN analytical food methods to enhance the testing capacity and capabilities at the NSPHL. The laboratory looks to utilize existing equipment to provide testing in alternate matrices of public health significance. Nevada has very distinct areas where radioactive methods would be of interest for testing foods. The Nevada Test Site and several military bases in Nevada all provide opportunities for radiation exposures, which could get into the food and/or water supply. The NSPHL has several pieces of radiochemistry instrumentation and will initiate alpha emitter FDA/FERN methods in year 1. Because equipment for alpha emitter testing will also be used for beta emitter testing, if time and funds permit beta emitter testing will also occur in year 1. In addition, the NSPHL has a gamma spec instrument and will work to develop FDA/FERN methods on that instrument during the life of the funded Award. Therefore, initial capacity in year 1 is being requested and future funding requests will be submitted to support what is implement in year 1 for the remainder of the funding period (years 2-5). Implementation of radiochemistry methods will support the risk-based evaluation of foods and supplement the prevention strategy to determine risks before exposures occur.