Center for Plant Health Science and Technology
CPHST Lab, Gulfport, Mississippi |
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Location: Gulfport, MS |
The Environmental Monitoring Laboratory was established in 1970 under ARS and was transferred to the newly formed APHIS in 1971. At that time, its primary mission was to monitor mirex residues in environmental matrices for the Imported Fire Ant Control Program. In 1976, the name was changed to National Monitoring and Residue Analysis Laboratory (NMRAL) and was responsible for monitoring pesticide residues in environmental samples for all PPQ-sponsored programs, including grasshopper, witchweed, golden nematode, and boll weevil. The Imported Fire Ant Methods Improvement Laboratory was established prior to 1962 under ARS, and also was transferred to the newly formed APHIS in 1971. At that time, it was renamed the Methods Development, Imported Fire Ant Laboratory. Its mission was to develop new and improved methods of controlling the imported fire ant. These two groups were joined under one CPHST Laboratory Director in 2002 under the umbrella name of the Analytical and Natural Products Chemistry Laboratory, which is now called the CPHST Gulfport Lab.
The CPHST Gulfport Lab consists of three main sections, the Gulfport Lab-Analytical Chemistry Section, the Soil Inhabiting Pests Section (SIPS), and CPHST Quality Management (QM). Gulfport Lab-Analytical Chemistry provides on-going analytical and organic chemistry support to chemical control programs within PPQ (i.e., AQI and domestic and emergency programs) and other CPHST laboratories. The laboratory conducts chemical analyses on agricultural commodities and environmental samples for detecting the presence of pesticide residues and toxic substances. In addition, the laboratory isolates, identifies, and syntheses natural products, pesticides, pheromones, and other organic compounds. It evaluates instrumentation applicability for prohibited commodity identification and detection as well as development of field tests or technologies for detection of chemical treatments. Specifically, Gulfport Lab-Analytical Chemistry provides residue analysis for environmental monitoring on a variety of environmental matrices (soil, water, vegetation, etc.), quality assurance of insecticide tank mixes or treatment applications, and lure preparation. Routine work includes sample analysis for PPQ operational programs such as Asian longhorn beetle, boll weevil, grasshopper, and fruit fly. Non-routine work includes improvements to in-house procedures and methodologies to a broad base of sample matrices in determining requested residue analyses, as well as special projects with agency scientists conducting research on program pests. The Gulfport Lab-Analytical Chemistry assists in conducting specialized analysis (trace element analysis) of commodities, especially fruits and vegetables, to determine country of origin. Through chemical analysis, we are able to identify commodities, pests, noxious weeds, diseases and pathogens. The Gulfport Lab reports routine results to the PPQ-EDP-Environmental Monitoring Team (EMT) which prepares reports for stakeholders. Results of non-routine sample analysis are reported directly to the program contact.
The Gulfport Lab-SIPS conducts field and laboratory experiments aimed at developing methods and tools for the survey, detection, regulation, and control of the imported fire ant. Technology and scientific information developed by SIPS is utilized by PPQ, State Plant Regulatory Officials (SPROs), the nursery industry, chemical industry, farmers, ranchers, homeowners, and other stakeholders. SIPS is the sole source of developing new quarantine technologies in support of the Federal Imported Fire Ant Quarantine (Title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 301.81) for nursery stock and other commodities of interest. A primary focus continues to be the development of new quarantine treatments for field grown/balled-and-burlapped nursery stock and oversight of the APHIS funded phorid fly rearing and release program. Technologies that are developed are transferred to stakeholders through tools such as PPQ manuals, APHIS program aids, online information, and training workshops.
The Gulfport Lab-Quality Management (QM) is responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining quality management systems for all aspects of science and technology that are deployed by CPHST. The goal of the Gulfport Lab-QM is to develop a quality management system that assures stakeholders, shareholders, and management through ongoing internal and third-party certification audits which CPHST’s processes are managed, maintained, and improved to support science based decisions. The Gulfport Lab-QM provides training, consulting, and other technical support and expertise to CPHST laboratories to ensure they meet the requirements of the appropriate ISO standard.
Recent Accomplishments
- Analyzed and reported 950 APHIS routine program support samples within stipulated deliverable times.
- Completed 900 project samples supporting APHIS initiatives.
- Achieved ISO 9000 registration in July 2007 for HPLC based methods supporting APHIS Operational & Emergency programs and the CPHST Mission Laboratory achieved ISO registration in March 2007.
- USDA-APHIS Program Aid No. 1904 “Imported Fire Ant 2007: Quarantine Treatments for Nursery Stock and Other Regulated Articles” was issued in December 2006.
- IFA staff participated on the planning committee for the first International Pacific Invasive Ant Conference (IPIAC) held in Kona, Hawaii on May 22-25, 2007.
- IFA staff, with PPQ headquarters, regional, state and APHIS-IES staff presented training sessions to state inspectors in Georgia, Tennessee, and Oklahoma on the federal IFA regulatory program, toured local nurseries, and held informational meetings with nursery growers in these areas.
Last Modified: July 16, 2008