Food and Environmental
Sampling Kits
Katie Garman, MPH
Lori LeMaster
Why are the kits needed?
 Collect food/environmental samples
without risk of contamination
 Food/environmental samples are sent to
the Tennessee State Public Health Lab
(SPHL) appropriately
Keep in mind…..
 Epi and SPHL must be consulted first
before food/environmental samples are
tested
 Only outbreak-associated samples will be
tested
 More than 2 people from different
households
 Case linked to a multi-state outbreak
Kit contents….
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Cooler
Insulated mailing boxes
Sterile spoons
Ice packs
Sampling bags
Swabs
Sampling cups
Gloves
 Food/Environmental Sampling Form (NEW!)
Food/Environmental Sampling
Form---DRAFT
 The form will capture
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Outbreak ID
Contact information of the collector
Organism to test for
Date of collection
Sample type/lot number
Temperature
Chain of custody
Just in Time Training
 Review
 Kits sent to regional/metro offices
 1-2 per office
 New Food/Environmental Sample Testing
Form
 Collection Instructions
 How much to collect
 What information needs to be recorded
 How to send samples to SPHL
Questions?
National Voluntary Environmental
Assessment Information System (NVEAIS)
 Purpose:
 To systematically collect, analyze, interpret and
disseminate environmental data from foodborne
illness outbreak investigations
 Information collected will allow programs to:
 Take food safety actions and assess
effectiveness,
 Develop or modify program policies or
regulations based on sound epidemiologic data,
National Voluntary Environmental
Assessment Information System (NVEAIS)
 Train environmental health specialists about
environmental causes related to foodborne
illness outbreaks, and
 Help prevent foodborne illness outbreaks
associated with restaurants and other food
venues (such as banquet facilities, schools,
and other institutions).
Why use NVEAIS?
 To help CDC public health determine and understand the
primary causes of outbreaks
 Users will submit data about foodborne illness outbreaks,
which will improve response to and prevention of future
outbreaks
 Analysis of the data will help to determine how and why
outbreaks occur. CDC will use data from NVEAIS to
 Recommend actions for food safety programs
 Share findings with food safety programs, food industries, and
academia
 The recommendations and sharing of findings should
increase effectiveness of food safety programs, increase
food safety, and decrease foodborne illness
When is NVEAIS Used?
 When a foodborne (FB) outbreak is
suspected
 TN reports ~ 25 FB outbreaks per year
 Important to collaborate with Epi to
determine transmission mode
 Not always black and white
Is it Foodborne??
 Susan’s highschool reunion is catered by
Stinky’s BBQ shop. 25 people become ill
with N/V/D 18-24 hrs after the reunion.
EH interviews of Stinky and his staff
reveal that three of Stinky’s foodhandlers
had been ill with N/V/D one day prior to
the reunion. The epi study did not reveal
any significant food items.
Is it Foodborne??
 Amanda’s family reunion was held at Ingram’s
Bar and Grille. 15 people became ill with
N/V/D 18-24 hrs after the reunion. EH
conducts and inspection and does not find any
critical violations or ill foodhandlers. Epi
interviews revealed Amanda’s 8 year old
nephew was ill with N/V/D the day before the
event. The epi study did not reveal any
significant food items.
NVEAIS Needs?
 Training?
 Data entry support?
 Other?
Thank you!!