Guidance

Food, Water and Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, London: services

The laboratory provides diagnostic microbiological testing services for the examination of food, water and environmental samples.

The Food, Water and Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, London, provides public health focused testing in line with regulation and guidance for a range of stakeholders including:

  • local authorities
  • port health authorities
  • NHS
  • commercial companies

The laboratory serves the Midlands, the east and south-east of England across the counties of:

  • Shropshire
  • Staffordshire
  • West Midlands
  • Warwickshire
  • Leicestershire
  • Northamptonshire
  • Norfolk
  • Suffolk
  • Cambridgeshire
  • Bedfordshire
  • Hertfordshire
  • Buckinghamshire
  • Greater London
  • Kent
  • Essex

Services available

The laboratory provides a range of services which include:

  • rapid-growing mycobacteria species, including from heater cooler units
  • detection of food and water-borne pathogens, including Campylobacter species, Escherichia coli (E.coli) O157, Salmonella species and Listeria monocytogenes
  • enumeration of food and water-borne indicator organisms, including E. coli, coliform bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae and aerobic colony counts
  • Cronobacter sakazakii testing
  • environmental testing: detection for pathogens and enumeration of indicator organisms
  • dairy product testing
  • legionella testing, sampling and result interpretation guidance
  • endoscopy and dialysis water sample testing
  • support for investigation of outbreaks and incidents

Accreditation

United Kingdom Accreditation Services (UKAS) testing accreditation no.1645.

Contact

Food, Water and Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, London

UK Health Security Agency
61 Colindale Avenue
London
NW9 5EQ

Email fwem@ukhsa.gov.uk

Telephone 020 8327 6548 / 6550 / 6551

Fax 020 8327 6542

Published 31 July 2014
Last updated 16 February 2017 + show all updates
  1. Updated locations served by the lab and list of services.

  2. First published.