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CDA Biochemistry Lab achieves international accreditationColorado The Colorado Department of Agriculture's Inspection and Consumer Services Division has been notified that the Division's Biochemistry Laboratory has achieved ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation in Biological and Chemical Testing from the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA). Accreditation is a formal recognition of competence that a laboratory can perform specific tests or calibrations. CDA's Biochemistry Laboratory provides testing on a variety of matrices including fresh produce, food products, animal feeds, fertilizers, soil, vegetation, and water. The laboratory also includes a microbiology section which employs microbiological techniques to analyze human and animal foods for harmful bacteria and examines animal feeds for the presence of antibiotics and prohibited materials. "We are very excited to become ISO 17025 accredited by A2LA," said Keith Wegner, Laboratory Services Section Chief. "Our laboratory staff worked extremely hard over several years to earn this accreditation. The breadth of the accreditation scopes shows the complexity and importance of the work that we do here." Accreditation by A2LA demonstrates that the Biochemistry Laboratory has achieved an international standard of recognition for testing integrity and reliability. Biological testing includes food products, feed, food additives, method validation studies, method development, and related research for food-borne pathogens, contaminants and adulterants. Chemical testing includes ground and surface waters, and food commodities. The complete scope of accreditation issued by A2LA can be found by visiting www.colorado.gov/ag/ics and clicking on "Biochemistry Laboratory." "We will also be adding fertilizer testing, pesticides, and additional animal feed tests to our accreditation scope as we move forward," explained Wegner. Julie Zimmerman, ICS Division Director, was quite pleased with the achievement and noted, "The Department is committed to ensuring that we deliver accurate and reliable analytical testing to support our programs. It is vital that our laboratories continue to develop and perform the latest scientific methods and technologies and accreditation helps us demonstrate our capabilities." For more information on CDA's consumer protection services within the Inspection and Consumer Services Division, visit www.colorado.gov/ag/ics.
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