The Florida Department of Health’s Bureau of Public Health Laboratories (BPHL) provides outbreak related food testing throughout Florida. This testing is only provided to active investigations being conducted by local county health departments. Testing is provided at the Jacksonville laboratory.
Outbreak-related testing is only provided to active investigations conducted by local county health departments. Contact your local county health department if you suspect a need for testing.
Required Form: DH4073
Analytes Tested
Standard Plate Count (GFQ), Fecal Coliform (GFQ), Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio sp., Bacillus cereus, Salmonella sp., Shigella sp. Campylobacter sp., Clostridium perfringens, Listeria sp., STEC/EHEC/E. coli, other please call 904-791-1600.
Cost of Service
No cost to county health departments
Operating Hours
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Contact BPHL if testing is required in emergency situations, outside of normal service hours.
Processing Time
10 business days
Sample Types
Food samples from a variety of sources (dairy, meat products, produce, ready to eat foods.)
Sample Collection
No media is needed for direct food samples. Laboratory will accept swabs (foam tipped for food sampling) or sponges (sponge stick with 10 mL neutralizing buffer).
Collection Instructions
Collect a minimum of 25 g of food or 25 mL of liquid samples.
Shipping/Delivery Instructions
Ship samples according to how the food was stored. If refrigerated, the sample needs to be shipped on ice packs. Any swabs or sponges should also be shipped on ice packs. If samples are being sent for Saturday delivery, BPHL can accept and will store samples in refrigeration until testing can be started.
Please contact your local county health department for results.