ABSTRACT
In the UK, government-funded laboratories such as Health Protection Agency (HPA) laboratories, HPA collaborating laboratories, National Public Health Service laboratories in Wales and public analyst laboratories undertake food and water testing on behalf of local authorities, port health/border inspec tion post authorities and occasionally on behalf of the Food Standards Agency. They may also undertake limited commercial testing and fre - quently undertake testing on behalf of hospitals, but this is in addition to their core function. Many of these laboratories are designated as Official Food Control laboratories and act to support the Official Food Control function of the local authorities. Each Official Food Control laboratory needs to have at least one qualified food examiner. Official Food Control laboratories must be accredited against ISO 17025 and have their Official Food Control activ - ities audited. Because of the breadth of the activities undertaken, government-funded laboratories tend to perform a wider range of more demanding tests than commercial contract laboratories, and conse - quently parti ci pation in more varied external quality assessment (proficiency testing) schemes is required. It is common for public sector laboratories to take part in up to six such schemes, some of which may
be tailored for specific foods, e.g. dairy products or shellfish, or for the detection of specific groups of pathogens, e.g. Vibrio spp.
