{"id":9957,"date":"2025-03-01T14:01:40","date_gmt":"2025-03-01T19:01:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/foodscp\/"},"modified":"2025-03-02T00:41:42","modified_gmt":"2025-03-02T05:41:42","slug":"foodscp","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/lab\/foodscp\/","title":{"rendered":"lab\/foodscp ~  food-scp.html  &#8211; Delaware Health and Social Services &#8211; State of Delaware"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-swiftype-index=\"true\">\n\n\n\n\n\n  <br>\n\n\n  \n\n\n  <div class=\"container\" id=\"main_header\">\n\n\n    <!-- BEGIN readspeaker div -->\n\n\n    <div class=\"rs_skip rsbtn rs_preserve\" id=\"readspeaker_button1\">\n\n\n      <a accesskey=\"L\" class=\"rsbtn_play\" href=\"https:\/\/app-na.readspeaker.com\/cgi-bin\/rsent?customerid=7262&#038;lang=en_us&#038;readid=main_content&#038;url=https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/lab\/foodscp.html\" title=\"Listen to this page using ReadSpeaker\">\n\n\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_left rsimg rspart\"><span class=\"rsbtn_text\"><span>Listen<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n\n\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_right rsimg rsplay rspart\"><\/span>\n\n\n      <\/a>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n    <!-- END readspeaker div -->\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n\n\n    <header class=\"pull-left\">\n\n\n      <h1><!--[type=EDIT name=\"Page Title\"]-->SPECIMEN COLLECTION PROCEDURES FOR FOOD<!--[END]--><\/h1>\n\n\n    <\/header>\n\n\n  <\/div><br>\n\n\n \n\n\n  <div class=\"container\">\n\n\n    <div class=\"row\">\n\n\n      <div class=\"col-md-3\" id=\"leftCol\">\n\n\n        <div class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\">\n\n\n          <div class=\"panel sectionmenu_panel\">\n\n\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\">\n\n\n              <p class=\"panel-title\"><a class=\"agency_nav\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapseOne\"><strong><i class=\"fa fa-align-justify fa-fw\"><\/i> Public Health Menu<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n            <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n            <div class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\" id=\"collapseOne\">\n\n\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" id=\"clf_nav\">\n\n\n                  <ul class=\"nav nav-stacked nav-pills-clf\" id=\"agency_sidebar\">\n    <li><a href=\"\/dph\/\"><h2>Home <i class=\"fa fa-home fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a><\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#agency_sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#HomeMenu\"><h2>About <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n      <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"HomeMenu\">\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/about.html\">About DPH<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/sections.html\">Sections &#038; Programs<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/ofclocations.html\">Office Locations<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/contact.html\">Contact Info<\/a><\/li>\n      \n        <li><a href=\"\/calendars.html\" target=\"_blank\">Calendar<\/a><\/li>\n      <\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#ServicesMenu\"><h2>Services <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n      <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"ServicesMenu\">\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/servicesaz.html\">A-Z Services<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/environmental.html\">Air &#038; Water Quality<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/ss\/vitalstats.html\">Birth, Death, &#038; Marriage Records<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/clinics.html\">Clinics<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/healthdatastats.html\">Health Data &#038; Statistics<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/php\/emsps.html\">Emergency Preparedness<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/healthandwellness.html\">Health &#038; Wellness<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/healthyhomes.html\">Healthy Homes<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/healthywp.html\">Healthy Workplaces<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/lab\/labs.html\">Laboratory<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hsp\/feir.html\">Restaurant Inspections<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/screen.html\">Screening and Testing<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/chca\/dphwichominf01.html\">WIC<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/servicesadd.html\">Additional Services<\/a><\/li><li>\n      <\/li><\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#InformationMenu\"><h2>Information <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n        <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"InformationMenu\">\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/factsheetsaz.html\">A-Z Fact Sheets<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/pubreportsaz.html\">A-Z Publications &#038; Reports<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/diseasesandconditions.html\">Diseases &#038; Conditions<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/faq.html\">FAQ&#8217;s<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/php\/alerts.html\">Health Alerts<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/healthylifestyles.html\">Healthy Lifestyles<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/hipaa.html\">HIPAA<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/regs.html\">Regulations<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/forms.html\">Request Forms<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/links.html\">Links &#038; Resources<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"http:\/\/delaware.gov\/help\/foia_request.shtml\">FOIA Request Form<\/a><\/li>\n      <\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n    <li><a id=\"SocialMenuHeader\"><h2>Connect <i class=\"fa fa-thumbs-o-up fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n      <ul id=\"SocialMenu\">\n        <li class=\"facebook\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/DEPublicHealth\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Division of Public Health Facebook Page\"><i class=\"fa fa-facebook-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Facebook<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"twitter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Delaware_DHSS\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Delaware Health and Social Services Twitter Account\"><i class=\"fa fa-twitter-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Twitter<\/a><\/li>\n        <!-- <li class=\"googleplus\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-google-plus-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Google +<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"flickr\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-flickr fa-lg\"><\/i> Flickr<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"youtube\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-youtube-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Youtube<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"instagram\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-instagram fa-lg\"><\/i> Instagram<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"linkedin\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-linkedin-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Linkedin<\/a><\/li>\n        <li class=\"pinterest\"><a href=\"#\"><i class=\"fa fa-pinterest-square fa-lg\"><\/i> Pinterest<\/a><\/li> -->\n      <\/ul>\n    <\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n\n\n              <\/div>\n\n\n            <\/div>\n\n\n          <\/div>\n\n\n        <\/div><br>\n\n\n      <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n      <div class=\"col-md-9\" id=\"main_content\"> \n\n\n  <!--[type=HTMLEDIT name=\"Content\"]-->\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<!-- Google Translate Element BEGIN -->\n\n\n\n            <div id=\"google_translate_element\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n                <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n\n\n\n                    function googleTranslateElementInit() {\n\n\n\n                    new google.translate.TranslateElement({pageLanguage: 'en'}, 'google_translate_element');\n\n\n\n}\n\n\n\n                <\/script>\n\n\n\n                <script src=\"\/\/translate.google.com\/translate_a\/element.js?cb=googleTranslateElementInit\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\/**\/<\/script><br>\n\n\n\n            <!-- Google Translate Element END -->\n\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n\n  The Delaware Public Health Laboratory (DPHL) provides testing to assist in identification of foodborne illness outbreaks. \n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n\n  DPHL supports other state partners when investigating tainted foods or\n\n\n\n  suspected food-borne outbreaks. Infectious disease epidemiologists and the Office of Food Protection Health Systems Protection (HSP) can refer cases to DPHL for testing. Using symptoms and adverse reactions attributed to consuming suspected food, Epi and HSP guide DPHL in determining the appropriate method for detecting the food borne pathogen. Target organism(s) must be specified on the <a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/dph\/pdf\/reqnonclinpreptesting.pdf\">Request for\n\n\n\n  Non-Clinical Preparedness Testing form<\/a> and the <a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/dph\/pdf\/dphchainofcustody.pdf\">Chain of Custody form<\/a> must be completed at the time of delivery to the\n\n\n\n  lab. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n\n  Standard procedures for processing food are more complicated than handling routine specimens. Foods cannot be screened for numerous\n\n\n\n  pathogens due to the nature of the testing. Target organisms must be identified so that the food can be enriched specifically for that\n\n\n\n  organism. Special media is required for fastidious organisms, usually found in mixed flora. <strong>Communication with the laboratory\n\n\n\n  prior to delivery of the specimen(s) is a requirement.<\/strong>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n\n  Currently there are no successfully validated methods for detection of Norovirus in foods. If Norovirus infection is suspected, stool\n\n\n\n  samples can be tested from suspected food handlers, or those persons suspected of being infected. Stools should be\n\n\n\n  collected in sterile leak proof containers with 2 unique identifiers and submitted to the laboratory as soon as possible with completed <a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/dph\/pdf\/testreq.pdf\">Test Requisition Form<\/a>. Requests for Norovirus testing must be approved and coordinated through the Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology (OIDE).\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n\n<h2>\n\n\n\n  TESTS OFFERED\n\n\n\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3>\n\n\n\n  Pathogen isolation and identification:\n\n\n\n<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n\n<li><i>Bacillus anthracis<\/i>\n\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><i>Bacillus cereus<\/i>\n\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><i>Brucella<\/i> spp.\n\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><i>Burkholderia<\/i> spp.\n\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shiga-toxin producing <i>E. coli<\/i> \n\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><i>Francisella tularensis<\/i>\n\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><i>Listeria<\/i> spp.\n\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><i>Salmonella<\/i> spp.\n\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><i>Shigella<\/i> spp.\n\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><i>Campylobacter<\/i> spp.<\/li> \n\n\n\n<li><i>Staphylococcus aureus<\/i>\n\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><i>Yersinia pestis<\/i>\n\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><i>Vibrio<\/i> spp. (For testing <i>Vibrio<\/i> in shellfish, please contact DNREC.)\n\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3>\n\n\n\n  Molecular Testing (real-time PCR):\n\n\n\n<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n\n<li><i>Bacillus anthracis<\/i>\n\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><i>Francisella tularensis<\/i>\n\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><i>Yersinia pestis<\/i>\n\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shiga toxin-producing <i>E. coli<\/i> (STEC): stx1, stx2, and wzy (0157:H7) \n\n\n\n<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3>Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS):<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n\n<li><i>Salmonella<\/i> species <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><i>Shigella<\/i> species <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Shiga toxin-producing <i>E. coli<\/i> (STEC)<\/li>  \n\n\n\n<li><i>Vibrio<\/i> species<\/li> \n\n\n\n<li><i>Campylobacter<\/i> spp. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><i>Listeria<\/i> spp. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3>\n\n\n\n  Botulism:\n\n\n\n<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n\n  The Delaware Public Health laboratory does not maintain the capabilities to analyze food for the presence of the Clostridium bacterium or its toxins\n\n\n\n  (e.g., <i>C. botulinum<\/i>). These services are available at select food testing laboratories, as well as the FDA and CDC. Contact Office of Infectious Disease Epidemiology to determine need for antitoxin or if further testing is warranted. CDC Hotline can\n\n\n\n  be contacted directly at (404) 639-3311.\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n\n<h2>\n\n\n\n  SAMPLE COLLECTION, HANDLING AND SHIPMENT\n\n\n\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"decimal\">\n\n\n\n<li>Sample collection is performed by environmental health specialists. Inquiries for specimen collection should be directed to the\n\n\n\n  Office of the County Health Administrator.\n\n\n\n    <ol class=\"lower-alpha\">\n\n\n\n<li>\n\n\n\n        <a href=\"\/dph\/\/dph\/main\/maps\/dsscmap\/porter.htm\">New Castle County &#8211; Porter State Service<\/a>\n\n\n\n      <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n\n\n\n        <a href=\"\/dph\/\/dph\/main\/maps\/dsscmap\/williams.htm\">Kent County &#8211; James W. Williams State Service<\/a>\n\n\n\n      <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\n\n\n\n        <a href=\"\/dph\/\/dph\/main\/maps\/dsscmap\/gtown.htm\">Sussex County &#8211; Georgetown State Service Center<\/a>\n\n\n\n      <\/li>\n\n\n\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Individual (private) collections are accepted but must be arranged through environmental health personnel.\n\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Whenever possible, the epidemiologist or environmental health specialist may request an unopened can or package of the same lot\/batch\n\n\n\n  number along with the opened food item alleged to have been the cause of illness. Prepared food, i.e., potato salad, casseroles, can be\n\n\n\n  submitted in a sterile container.\n\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Office of Infectious Disease personnel complete a detailed questionnaire regarding the history and symptoms of the illness. This will determine\n\n\n\n  what testing is to be performed.\n\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A minimum portion size of 25-100 grams (1-4oz) of food collected aseptically is sufficient for testing.\n\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Complete the Request for Non-Clinical Preparedness Testing and Chain of Custody forms and submit the forms with the specimen to the\n\n\n\n  laboratory or order request online through our Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). Be sure to include pertinent patient\n\n\n\n  information, as well as submitting site information with the name of the person to whom the report should be sent.\n\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Label the sample with appropriate information prior to transport to the laboratory. Ensure the sample(s)\n\n\n\n  are stored\/transported at specified storage temperatures for that product based on feedback from epidemiologist\/laboratory personnel. Frozen foods should remain frozen and perishable foods should be refrigerated.\n\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Arrange transport to the laboratory through state health protection specialist or lab courier system.\n\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n\n<h2>\n\n\n\n  TESTS\n\n\n\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n\n  Foods are blended and inoculated onto the appropriate selective media, incubated, and examined by lab personnel. Subcultures are performed\n\n\n\n  if indicated. Organisms are confirmed with biochemical tests.\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n\n<h2>\n\n\n\n  REPORTS\n\n\n\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n\n  Reports are sent to the epidemiologist and environmental health specialist handling the investigation.\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n\n  Turnaround times vary according to the organism being sought and range from 3 &#8211; 7 days.\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n\n<h2>\n\n\n\n  REJECTION\n\n\n\n<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3>\n\n\n\n  Samples will be rejected if they are:\n\n\n\n<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n\n<li>Unlabeled &#8211; All specimens MUST be appropriately labeled.\n\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Insufficient quantity &#8211; No specimen received, no specimen in the container, or insufficient specimen to perform testing.\n\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Damaged &#8211; Specimen leaked or broken in transit.\n\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improperly stored &#8211; Specimen must be maintained at proper temperature (frozen, refrigerated or room temperature) after collection and\n\n\n\n  during transport to the laboratory.\n\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Insufficient request information &#8211; Due to the specialized nature of food microbiology, reliable preliminary information is required\n\n\n\n  prior to testing. Preauthorized and specific identification of target organism(s) is required.\n\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n\n  Return to <a href=\"labs.html\"><b>Delaware Public Health Laboratory<\/b><\/a> page<br>\n\n\n\n  Return to <a href=\"scp.html\"><b>Laboratory Specimen Collection Procedures<\/b><\/a> page.\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This page was last updated 3\/24\n\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n\n<br>\n\n\n\n<\/p><p class=\"smalltext\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.adobe.com\/products\/acrobat\/readstep2.html\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Download Adobe Acrobat Reader\" height=\"21\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/dhss\/img\/getacro60.gif\" width=\"60\"><\/a> Please note: Some of the files available on this page are in Adobe PDF format which requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.  A free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader can be downloaded directly from <a href=\"http:\/\/www.adobe.com\/products\/acrobat\/readstep2.html\">Adobe <\/a>. If you are using an assistive technology unable to read Adobe PDF, please either view the corresponding text only version (if available) or visit Adobe&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/access.adobe.com\">Accessibility Tools page<\/a>.<\/p><p>\n  <!--[END]-->\n\n\n  \n\n\n      <\/p><\/div>\n\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n  <\/div><!-- \/container -->\n\n\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Listen SPECIMEN COLLECTION PROCEDURES FOR FOOD Public Health Menu Home About About DPH Sections &#038; Programs Office Locations Contact Info Calendar Services A-Z Services Air &#038; Water Quality Birth, Death, &#038; Marriage Records Clinics Health Data &#038; Statistics Emergency Preparedness Health &#038; Wellness Healthy Homes Healthy Workplaces Laboratory Restaurant Inspections Screening and Testing WIC Additional [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":9943,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-9957","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9957","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9957"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9957\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11150,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9957\/revisions\/11150"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9943"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9957"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}