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2012 Microbiology and Residue Training Seminars
FSIS is pleased to announce the 2012 Microbiology and Residue Laboratory Training for International Government Officials. The purpose of these seminars is to familiarize international government laboratory officials with laboratory testing methods and procedures used by FSIS, USDA to assure that the nation's meat, poultry and egg products are safe and wholesome.

These seminars will be held at the following locations/times:

  • Aug 6-10, 2012 - International Microbiology Seminar, FSIS Eastern Laboratory, Athens, GA
  • Aug 14-16, 2012 - International Residue Seminar, Session I - FSIS Midwestern Laboratory, St. Louis, MO
  • Aug 20-21, 2012 - International Residue Seminar, Session II - FSIS Western Laboratory, Alameda, CA

Note: To attend the seminars, applicants MUST be government meat, poultry, and egg inspection officials and be fluent in the English language.

Participation in these seminars will each be limited to ten (10) individuals. These sessions are targeted towards laboratorians working at the level of laboratory supervisor or below.

Applicants are responsible for obtaining financial sponsors for their round trip air transportation, lodging, meals, and other miscellaneous expenses to either seminar. All applicants that are accepted to attend the seminar are required to reside at the designated hotel reserved for students and trainers (to be announced at a later date). A shuttle or taxi will be available in all locations to take you to the training and return you to the hotel each day.

To request an application form, send a request to Labtrainings@fsis.usda.gov. The completed application form must be submitted by the applicant's financial sponsor and received by the FSIS Office of International Affairs no later than February 27, 2012. If possible, please submit the application by email to Labtrainings@fsis.usda.gov, or by facsimile transmission to the Office of International Affairs at (202) 205-3469 and/or (202) 720-7990. Applicants must include an email address and/or a FAX number on their application for proper notification.

Applications are processed in the order they are received, as the class size is limited. Early submittal of applications is encouraged. Participants who are selected to attend the microbiology or residue seminars will be notified the week of March 12, 2012.

International Microbiology Seminar (Aug 6-10, 2012)
The microbiology seminar is a training course for microbiology methods only. It will be held in the FSIS Eastern Laboratory in Athens, Georgia (GA). The microbiology seminar will cover method equivalence issues, method validation, sampling, ISO 17025 requirements, methods for detection of Escherichia coli (E. coli) 0157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella and Campylobacter, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multiple-locus variable number tandem repeat analysis (ILVA) sub-typing, PulseNet and VetNet overviews, and molecular serology.

International Residue Seminars
The residue training seminars will be held at two locations. Participants will spend one week at each location. Session I will be held in St. Louis, Missouri and Session II will be held in Alameda, California.
  • Session I - Aug 14-16, 2012
    This session will cover the antibiotic residue detection process. Other topics of discussion will include: Overview of US residue policy specific for antibiotics, a discussion of the U.S. National Residue Program, a discussion of FSIS residue risk assessments, ISO 17025 laboratory accreditation requirements, a workshop on equivalence determinations and procedures, an overview of FSIS antibiotic field and lab screen testing, Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) management, aminoglycoside testing, and multi-residue class identification testing for beta-lactams, macrolides, floroquinolones, and sulfonamide drugs.

  • Session II - Aug 20-21, 2012
    This session will cover pesticide residue detection. The pesticide residue session will cover some of the same general topics as mentioned above but with a focus towards pesticide residues. In addition, the pesticide residue session will cover FSIS pesticide laboratory screening methods, demonstrations of initial processing, extraction, gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and gas chromatography/electron capture detector (GC/ECD) techniques, quantification and confirmation techniques, performance criteria and "fit for purpose" requirements, and new and emerging pesticide residue technology and methods.
Certificates of completion will be given out after completion of both residue sessions.


Last Modified: January 19, 2012

 

 

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