The Food and Drug Laboratory Branch (FDLB) provides services and leadership
as a public health reference and research laboratory. To ensure the safety of
Californians, FDLB provides the necessary analytical support to screen for,
identify and quantify chemical and microbiological contaminants in food and
drugs. FDLB also provides regulatory services for substances of abuse
laboratories. All activities implement and support legislatively mandated
programs.
Abused Substances Analysis Section (ASAS) operates a regulatory program that
establishes and maintains the competency of laboratories determining blood
alcohol levels for the enforcement of drunk driving laws and approves breath
alcohol testing procedures used in the State. ASAS also operates a regulatory
program that determines and maintains the competency of laboratories providing
urine drug screening services to the narcotic treatment programs in the
State.
Chemistry Section analyzes food, drugs, medical devices and consumer products for
chemical adulterations. Common analytes are heavy metals, and other toxic
chemicals, carcinogens, prescription drugs, food additives and
preservatives.
Microbiology Section analyzes food, drugs, cosmetics, and environmental samples for
microbial contamination. Generic tests for microbial load, sterility, or
contamination are available. In addition, tests for specific agents, such as
E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio
vulnificus, and Listeria monocytogenes can be conducted. Rapid
testing for protein biotoxins that cause food poisoning, such as the botulism
toxins, staphylococcal enterotoxins and ricin, is available.
Cannabis Testing Section (CTS) supports the Manufactured Cannabis Safety
Branch (MCSB) with analytical support of routine inspections, investigations
and response to health outbreaks, thus ensuring manufactured cannabis products
are free of harmful chemical or microbiological impurities. Common analytes are
cannabinoids, residual solvents, terpenes, heavy metals, mycotoxins, foreign
materials, moisture content and water activity, salmonella, Shiga
toxin-producing E. Coli (STEC) and pathogenic aspergillus species.