DIVISION
Environmental Microbiology
Environmental Microbiology provides analytical services to detect foodborne and waterborne illnesses, and assess the quality of drinking water and recreational waters. The analyses are used to pinpoint the source of outbreaks, to determine if water is safe to drink or swim in, and to assess the environmental impact from exposure to microbial contaminants.
The section offers a full complement of environmental microbiological testing. Environmental Microbiology is expanding into more pathogen analyses in both water and environmental samples with sample load increases of Legionella, Salmonella and Listeria.
Major achievements:
- Detected Cryptosporidium in apple cider during an outbreak in Johnson County using a water EPA Method 1623. Because of this successful testing and SHL expertise, the section secured funding for a proposed Iowa Cryptosporidium Surveillance in Fresh Produce and Herbs starting in spring 2015. Data from this first of its kind surveillance project may be instrumental for food safety and public health regulation.
- Developed new standard operating procedure manuals, worksheets and additional quality control measures, and analyzed proficiency test samples in preparation for accreditation for the section’s food microbiology area. Testing areas included Salmonella, E. coli 0157:H7, Shiga-toxin Producing E. coli (STEC), Listeria monocytogenes, and Campylobacter polymerase-chain reaction (PCR).