FDA Milk Laboratory Certification Program
The MSDH Public Health Laboratory has been designed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as the certifying agency for approval of microbiological laboratories processing milk and diary samples for compliance purposes.
The laboratory certification program ensures that approved laboratories use methods and techniques that are in substantial agreement with the current edition of Standard Methods for the Examination of Dairy Products and method relevant FDA 2400 Series regulations.
General Requirements for Milk Laboratory Certification
The MSDH Environmental Health Milk and Bottled Water Division is the state regulatory agency which must approve laboratories prior to certification. Approved in-state laboratories wishing to participate in the state certification program should contact one of the following:
- Environmental Microbiology Lab Division Director
- Environmental Quality Assurance Officer
Upon request, the materials relative to the program will be forwarded to the requestor.
MSDH Milk Laboratory Evaluation Officers
Ms. Kenna Schwirian
Milk Laboratory Evaluation Officer
|
(601) 576-7582
(601) 576-7720 (fax)
|
Ms. Yilianys Pride
Milk Laboratory Evaluation Officer
|
(601) 576-7582
(601) 576-7720 (fax) |
USEPA Water Supply Laboratory Certification Program
The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), maintains a program designed to ensure that
state public laboratories monitoring public drinking water supplies for regulated chemical and microbiological contaminants
meet strict quality requirements.
This program also gives each state's Water Supply regulatory body the authority to inspect and certify private and non-regulatory
government laboratories within the state for the analysis of regulated chemical and microbiological contaminants.
This certification allows these laboratories to generate data that can be submitted to relevant local, state, and
federal authorities on behalf of public water suppliers to document regulatory compliance. The state Water Supply
regulatory body is also authorized to approve laboratories for the analysis of analytes not regulated by USEPA that
the state has an interest in monitoring.
In Mississippi, the Department of Health is the enforcement authority for the SDWA. Within the agency, the
Public Health Laboratory's Environmental Chemistry Division operates and maintains the Water Supply Laboratory
Chemistry Certification Program, while the Environmental Microbiology Division is responsible for the Water Supply
Laboratory Microbiology Certification Program.
The MSDH Water Supply Laboratory Certification Program inspects and certifies laboratories located within the state
of Mississippi, while it also maintains a reciprocity program in which recognized certified laboratories located outside
the state may conduct Water Supply analysis for Mississippi public water systems.
General Requirements for Drinking Water Laboratory Certification
In-state laboratories wishing to participate in the state certification program and out-of-state laboratories wishing to participate in the reciprocal certification program should contact one of the following: .
- Environmental Chemistry Lab Division Director
- Environmental Microbiology Lab Division Director
- Environmental Quality Assurance Officer
Upon request, the materials relative to the program will be forwarded to the requestor.
Drinking Water Laboratory Reciprocal Certification Requirements
Mississippi does not directly certify laboratories located outside the state for EPA-regulated drinking water parameters.
However, the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) does honor certification by reciprocity under the Safe Drinking Water
Act if the following criteria are met:
The laboratory must be certified by the laboratory's home state agency authorized by USEPA as a Water Supply Laboratory Certifying Authority for drinking water analysis. Alternately, MSDH may also recognize certification through a NELAP Accrediting Authority, provided the certification is specifically for drinking water analysis and meets the minimum requirements for drinking water certification mandated by USEPA.
Reciprocity is based upon the requirements of the applicant's Certifying Authority (CA).
The laboratory must have their Certifying Authority forward a copy of a certification document showing the laboratory's current certification status.
Each analyte, the method used, its certification status, and its date of expiration must be included in the certification document.
The laboratory must have the CA forward a copy of the most recent on-site evaluation and response.
The laboratory must have the Proficiency Testing (PT) provider forward copies of current PT study results.
The Laboratory must ensure that the Certifying Authority forward copies of any correspondence showing a change in the
laboratory's certification status from the Authority to MSDH within 30 days of issue. Failure to notify MSDH of certification
downgrades within the 30-day period may result in termination of reciprocal certification.
Should drinking water samples being monitored for compliance purposes on a public water supply within Mississippi exceed the
Maximum Contaminant Level for any regulated chemical, the laboratory must immediately telephone the MSDH Bureau of Public Water Supply
and report their findings.
A written report must also be submitted within two weeks of analysis.
Any Mississippi compliance sample that is positive for either total coliform or E. coli must be reported by
telephone or fax within two hours of detection to the
MSDH Bureau of Public Water Supply.
Bureau of Public Water Supply: (601) 576-7518, (601) 576-7800 (fax)
Public Health Laboratory: (601) 576-7582, (601) 576-7720 (fax)
MSDH Water Supply Laboratory Certification Officers
| Chemistry |
Ms. Sammie Malone
Laboratory Certification Program Manager
|
(601) 576-7582
(601) 576-7720 (fax)
|
Ms. Wanda Ingersoll
Chemistry Laboratory Certification Officer
|
(601) 576-7582
(601) 576-7720 (fax)
|
Ms. Pamela Omobude
Chemistry Laboratory Certification Officer
|
(601) 576-7582
(601) 576-7720 (fax)
|
Mr. Brian Castleberry
Chemistry Laboratory Certification Officer
|
(601) 576-7582
(601) 576-7720 (fax)
|
| Microbiology |
Ms. Monica Mitchell
Microbiology Laboratory Certification Officer |
(601) 576-7582
(601) 576-7720 (fax) |
Ms. Carolyn Parker
Microbiology Laboratory Certification Officer |
(601) 576-7582
(601) 576-7720 (fax) |
US EPA Region 4 Officers
Mr. Gary Bennett
Certification Officer, Science & Ecosystem Support Division
980 College Station Road
Athens, GA 30605-2700
|
(706) 355-8551
(706) 355-8803 (fax)
|
Ms. Marilyn Maycock
Microbiologist, Science & Ecosystem Support Division
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(706) 355-8553
(706) 355-8803 (fax)
|
Mr. Raymond H. Terhune
Chemist-Certification Officer / Quality Assurance Section
|
(706) 355-8557
(706) 355-8803 (fax)
|
Contact
For further information, or answers to questions, contact a Laboratory Certification Officer at (601) 576-7582.
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