The Seafood Industry Certified Laboratories, Inc. is a leader in the area of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) related seafood analyses and is recognized by every FDA District in the country, having established good working relationships with each.  Certified Laboratories can handle any type of automatic detention, referee sample, or reconditioning proposal required by the FDA on your merchandise. MICROBIOLOGICAL Traditionally, FDA has been most concerned with the presence of Salmonella species in cooked and raw seafoods. Certified Laboratories has been performing FDA accepted Salmonella testing for the past 15 years. Recently, FDA has been shifting its focus to the presence of Listeria monocytogenes. We have stayed current with this shift by adopting the most current methodology available. Other areas of concern are Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, but once again, you can be assured that we are using the most up to date methods available. Certified prides itself on its rapid turnaround time, which is so important to the seafood community. Certified Laboratories guarantees that all microbiological samples received will be started on the day of receipt, ensuring the fastest turnaround possible. SANITATION The presence of extraneous matter (Filth) in seafood has long been a major concern of the FDA. "Filth" can best be described as the extraneous matters left behind by contaminants of the product. These include whole insects and fragments, excreta, rat and mouse hairs, and feather barbules. Certain countries are on automatic detention because of this problem, and the FDA routinely monitors shipments of seafood (particularly shrimp) from all exporting countries. Certified Laboratories is recognized as experts in this field, having on its staff a former FDA analyst who is recognized nationwide as an expert in this area. Certified Laboratories stays current with changing FDA methodology and Defect Action Levels (DAL's) enabling us to tell you quickly and accurately whether or not your shipment will pass the rigid FDA standards established for "Filth". ORGANOLEPTIC A major concern the FDA has with seafood is product decomposition. A shipment may have been held too long prior to freezing or refrigerating and the product may have begun to spoil. Cooking will sometimes hide this condition. Our trained organoleptic analysts, using a scoring system established by the FDA, can tell you whether your shipment will pass FDA standards. Certified Laboratories has on its staff trained organoleptic specialists who are accepted nationally by the FDA. We can help you clear shipments that have been automatically detained (e.g. shrimp, lobster tails, and various finfish) and in certain cases can retest shipments that the FDA has failed for the purpose of having a "Referee sample" drawn. CHEMICAL Chemicals are sometimes added as preservatives in seafood. FDA has set limits for all of these preservatives. Of particular interest is sulfites and we have a full staff of chemists with the methodology and equipment to perform the analysis. In the near future, the FDA will be stepping up its sampling of fish for pesticide residues. With years of experience with the FDA's pesticide lab and the analysis of fresh produce, we are fully prepared to help you in this area. Mercury testing in fresh and frozen swordfish and tuna is a major concern, and we pride ourselves on a rapid one day turnaround time. Decomposition in cooked seafood cannot always be detected organoleptically, and with this in mind, we offer testing of seafood for indole and histamine levels (chemical indices of decomposition). With a new awareness of an environmentally safe food supply on the public's mind, you can get a real edge on your competition by ensuring that your product meets these governmental standards. OTHER Certified Laboratories can economically grade your product using official governmental agency methods. This will aid in assuring quality prior to shipping. Certified Laboratories is expert at handling all FDA paperwork, including automatic detention, and retesting under FDA766 applications. Our many years of working with the FDA has allowed us to establish good working relationships with key FDA personnel. We will make all submissions to the FDA, and will keep you informed of the status of your sample while it is in the laboratory. SAMPLING Sampling of your product can sometimes be a problem, Certified Laboratories is familiar with all FDA sampling schedules. We have a staff of trained samplers who can handle the complete sampling procedure or, if you prefer to submit the sample yourself, we will explain to your personnel the proper sampling plans to employ. We are always prepared to take responsibility for sampling at the following ports: BOSTON NEW YORK / NEW JERSEY PHILADELPHIA LOS ANGELES SAN FRANCISCO TAMPA MIAMI OTHERS BY REQUEST		.
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