APHL supports members who participate in PulseNet, GenomeTrakr, CaliciNet and CryptoNet to ensure robust surveillance of key foodborne pathogens. Through training and technical support, we enhance laboratory capacity, ensuring the timely submission of high-quality data to national surveillance databases. We also support the transition and adoption of next generation sequencing and analysis methods and assist with implementation and troubleshooting issues raised by our member laboratories.
Robust molecular surveillance is essential for early detection and prevention of enteric disease outbreaks. Programs like PulseNet and GenomeTrakr have demonstrated significant returns on investment by enhancing our ability to trace and respond to foodborne pathogens. By investing in and expanding such molecular surveillance initiatives, we can better protect public health and mitigate the impact of enteric diseases.
Working through the Council to Improve Foodborne Outbreak Response (CIFOR), APHL maintains a strong role in enhancing communication and collaboration across the disciplines involved in investigating foodborne illness outbreaks. We have led the production of several tools and resources, including the Food Safety Programs Reference Guide. We encourage food safety professionals to contact us about hosting CIFOR Toolkit Workshops to motivate, train and enable multi-disciplinary teams to improve “boots on the ground” processes within a jurisdiction.
APHL, in collaboration with FDA's Office of Training Education and Development and a team of subject matter experts, has created a competency-based curriculum framework for human and animal food laboratory professionals. This career-spanning framework includes four professional levels (entry, mid, expert and director) and delineates the content areas where laboratory professionals must demonstrate knowledge, skills, abilities, behaviors and attributes to perform their roles effectively. The curriculum framework supports training development, career advancement, competency assessment and the cataloging of existing training resources. Currently, competency-based training courses to address knowledge gaps and enhance the workforce readiness can be found in the APHL Learning Center.
This
is all part of FDA's IFSS Regulatory and Laboratory Training efforts to
equip the workforce with the essential competencies for effective job
performance.
APHL and our members recognize that for laboratory data to fulfill its purpose, it must inform regulatory policy and actions, be viewed in the context of on-going disease, and be available as the basis for population-based burden of illness studies and trends analysis. APHL has led the development of several resources intended to support the defensibility of laboratory data.
