| | Welcome to the Agri-Food Laboratories Branch of Food Safety and Animal Health Division, Agriculture and Rural Development (ARD). As a laboratory of the Alberta provincial government, our primary purpose is to enable the growth of Alberta's agriculture and food industry. As a branch of the Food Safety and Animal Health Division, our work is focused on food safety, zoonoses and animal health for market access. The Agri-Food Laboratories Branch is located in Edmonton, Alberta.
The Agri-Food Laboratories Branch (AFLB) performs microbiological and chemical surveillance and monitoring of Alberta's agri-food industry. Our work at the production and processing levels is used to ensure the health of Alberta's livestock and the production of safe food. The Agri-food Laboratories Branch produces objective scientific evidence that establishes and promotes the safety of Alberta's agriculture and food products in the domestic and international market places. The laboratory collaborates with colleagues in the food industry, scientific community and regulatory agencies to achieve common food safety and market access objectives. Partners include Alberta producers and processors, federal and provincial health and agriculture authorities, federal and provincial regulatory agencies, and academic institutions. Staff interpret laboratory results to provide partners and stakeholders with valuable information. This information is used to evaluate industry practices and identify potential risks. Findings are communicated to clients, partners and stakeholders by giving presentations at scientific and industry meetings and publishing results in peer-reviewed journals and industry publications.
The Agri-Food Laboratories Branch performs laboratory testing exclusively for its partners, colleagues, stakeholders and department researchers. It does not offer any diagnostic services to the public.
AFLB is ISO 17025 accredited and follows the highest standards of quality assurance. As a lab committed to excellence, all methodologies must be thoroughly and rigorously evaluated and validated prior to being accepted for use. Each AFLB lab is equipped with advanced instrumentation and technologies. The Branch's scientists possess a high degree of expertise in their fields, and its technologists are highly trained. Proficiency testing of all staff is conducted on a regular basis.
The Agri-Food Laboratories Branch, comprises eight individual labs in three sections as outlined below.
Chemistry Section
The Chemistry Section performs chemical surveillance and monitoring of Alberta's agri-food industry.
Two laboratories, organic and inorganic, operate within this section. Experienced technologists and scientists work with a variety of sophisticated analytical instruments. The Chemistry section specializes in the detection of drug and chemical residues in agri-food products. Analysis is performed on a range of sample matrices, notably honey, produce and animal tissues. Areas of particular expertise include elemental analysis and the detection of veterinary drug residues and pesticides. For more information on the Chemistry Section, please contact Section Head, Norine Best.
Biology Section
The Biology Section encompasses five individual laboratories, each with its own specific field of study. These fields include Food Microbiology, Veterinary Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Virology/Immunology and Parasitology. Biology Section labs perform microbiological surveillance of agri-food products at the production and processing levels. Advanced methodologies are utilized for the detection of organisms that impact food safety and animal health. Staff interpret laboratory results to provide partners and stakeholders with valuable information. This information is used to evaluate industry practices and identify potential risks. For more information on the Biology Section, please contact Section Head, Val Bohaychuk.
Biocontainment Level 3 and Support Section
This section is made of up of the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE) Lab, the Biocontainment Level 3 Lab, and the Media Preparation Lab. The Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSE) Lab performs surveillance on high numbers of samples for Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy diseases. Surveillance for BSE is performed in accordance with the requirements of the World Animal Health Organization (OIE). The Agri-Food Laboratories TSE lab is the only CFIA network laboratory able to perform all three types of TSE screening (BSE, CWD and scrapie).
The Biocontainment Level 3 (CL3) facility provides the Agri-Food Laboratories Branch with the capability to test for animal pathogens such as TSE, Highly Pathological Avian Influenza, Foot and Mouth Disease and Classical Swine Fever. This allows AFLB to respond in the event of a foreign animal disease outbreak.
For more information on the Biocontainment Level 3 and Support Section, please contact Section Head Margaret McFall.
For more information, please contact Dr. Ole Sorensen, AFLB Branch Head.
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