Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services Food and Beverage Analysis
Brief Description
Poisons in food and beverages.
Laboratory Unit
Chemistry
Methodology
Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry
Specimen Collection
Samples are collected and submitted by an official of the local public health agency or state district health office. Sample collection and submission must be coordinated through the District's Epidemiology Specialist.
Food samples must have at least 25 grams of food material collected in a suitable container for the Poisons in Food/Beverages Screen.
Beverage samples must have at least 50 milliliters of beverage collected in a suitable container for the Poisons in Food/Beverages Screen.
Food/Beverage minimum sample collection amounts for radiological analysis are density dependant, contact us.
Shipping and collection procedures and forms are available by contacting us.
Storage/Transport
Shipping and collection procedures are available by contacting the MSPHL.
Acceptable Specimen
Type(s)
Any food sample.
Test Request Form(s)
Contact the MSPHL.
Possible Results
Chemicals which are amenable to analysis by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry. Results are qualitative.
Reference Range
N/A
Unacceptable Conditions
Insufficient quantity.
Interfering Substances
N/A
Result Reported
5 working days after receipt of sample
Fees
N/A
CPT Codes
N/A
LOINC/SNOMED Codes
N/A
Additional Information
Food Emergency Response - The MSPHL is partnering with the FDA Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) to develop capacity to respond to a public health emergency in a chemical or radiological event. This capacity will augment the MSPHL with the ability to analyze food/beverage samples for the presence of various chemical and radiological contaminants.
Food Surveillance - In an effort to monitor food/beverage products for possible chemical contaminants, the MSPHL is conducting a food surveillance program in conjunction with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services’ Bureau of Environmental Epidemiology. This program was established to routinely analyze food/beverage products for potential toxic chemicals that could affect the public health of Missourians.