informatics
APHL , FDA and Partners Call for New Work Group Volunteers
by Melanie Kourbage , PhD , MA , APHL consultant
Acohesive , meaningful connection across a network of subject matter experts is the necessary human element of an integrated food safety system . To that end , APHL is working to assemble a Food / Feed Informatics Work Group to collaborate on issues related to informatics and information management that are of concern to food and feed testing laboratories , including but not limited to , FDA ’ s Electronic Laboratory Exchange Network ( eLEXNET ), a central food testing repository that will allow for the sharing of food and feed testing data .
In partnership with the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ), the Association of Food and Drug Officials ( AFDO ), and the Association of American Feed Control Officials ( AAFCO ), the group is being created as part of an Integrated Laboratory System Cooperative Agreement . It will be responsible for developing solutions that are re-usable across food / feed laboratories and sharing resources and tools that have made a difference in other laboratories .
Members will represent a diverse field of food / feed laboratory scientists , informatics specialists , LIMS administrators , and some of the laboratory ’ s key partners , including state-level epidemiologists and regulatory officials . In addition , APHL is looking for volunteers from large laboratories with mature informatics capabilities , as well as from smaller laboratories that require less complicated technical setups . This mix of informatics maturity will provide valuable diverse perspectives .
APHL is working with partners and laboratory leaders to draft an agenda for the first year , with an anticipated start date of spring 2017 . APHL and FDA are encouraging participation and input from the entire food safety community about any challenges confronting the food and feed laboratory community for this work group to address .
For more information about this work group , please email Vanessa Holley ( Vanessa . holley @ aphl . org ).
10th National Conference on Laboratory Aspects of Tuberculosis
April 18 – 20 , 2017 Atlanta Marriott Marquis Atlanta , GA
�oin your colleagues for two days of sessions , networking and exhibits at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in Atlanta , GA , April 18 – 1� , 2017 . This year the meeting will run concurrently with the �ational TB Controllers Conference , April 1� – 21 .
Conference Highlights :
� �eynote address from Phil LoBue and Tim �odwell
� Latest Advances in TB diagnostics
� Poster session with �TCA conference
Find details at www . aphl . org / TBCon