U.S. Department of Agriculture

The new laboratory building is part of a nationwide network of regulatory analytical laboratories to coordinate and conduct laboratory services in support of the USDA-Food Safety and Inspection Services (FSIS) public health mission.

The single-story, 84,000-sf building consists of microbiology and chemistry laboratories, administrative offices, supply storage, processing area and large warehouse with adjacent loading docks.

• Chemistry labs for analyses of veterinary drugs, pesticides and environmental contaminants.
• Microbiology labs for analysis of foodborne pathogens, as well as whole genome DNA sequencing on positive isolates.
• Administration areas for overseeing testing, quality control, procurement and safety.

The facility location is particularly strategic, allowing FSIS proximity to the airport for sample receiving and shipping, and close to a university for recruitment.

The FSIS is the public health agency in the USDA responsible for protecting the public’s health by ensuring that meat, poultry and egg products are safe, wholesome and properly labeled.