Food, Water and Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, London: services
The laboratory provides diagnostic microbiological testing for the examination of food, water and environmental samples.
The Food, Water and Environmental Microbiology Services 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 tests and services which include:
- general hygiene screens for food samples and surface swabs
- 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
- spoilage organisms such as yeasts and moulds
- shelf-life tests of foods
- shellfish classification and end-product testing
- swimming and spa pool water quality
- potable and surface or recreational water quality
- Cronobacter sakazakii testing
- environmental testing: detection for pathogens and enumeration of indicator organisms
- dairy product testing
- rapid-growing mycobacteria species, including from heater cooler units
- Legionella and Pseudomonas in water supplies
- endoscopy and dialysis water sample testing
- support during investigation of outbreaks
- advice on sampling, required testing and interpretation of results
Accreditation
United Kingdom Accreditation Services (UKAS) testing accreditation no.1645.
Contact
Food, Water and Environmental Microbiology Services Laboratory, London
UK Health Security Agency
61 Colindale Avenue
London
NW9 5EQ
Email fwem@ukhsa.gov.uk
Telephone 020 8327 6548 / 6550 / 6551
Updates to this page
Published 31 July 2014Last updated 22 January 2025 + show all updates
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Laboratory name corrected, services available section expanded and grammatical changes.
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Updated locations served by the lab and list of services.
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First published.