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Laboratory News Lab Certified to run Disinfection By-Products in Drinking Water October 18, 2004 The Analytical Services section of the Wyoming Department of Agriculture has recently been certified by US EPA Region VIII for the analysis of the disinfection by-products in public drinking water supplies. Large and small public water suppliers can now request containers from the lab to send in water samples. The analyses include trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids and oxyhalides. The lab will be running these tests during the second full week of the first and third month of each calendar quarter. Analyses are performed in January, March, April, June, July, September, October and December. Clients requesting this series of analyses must contact the lab at (307) 742-2984 at least three full weeks prior to the scheduled week for the analysis. The laboratory will mail out sample containers when the request is received. Sampling and shipment back to the lab must take place in the week prior to the week of analysis. For analyses taking place in December 2004 the time line is as follows:
Usually it is municipal governments that hold EPA water supply permits and also chlorinate their drinking water that send in these samples. The general public may send in samples, but they must contact the lab for sample containers and dates for when samples may be collected. If you have any questions, contact the laboratory at the above telephone number.
The staff at Analytical Services all have new e-mail addresses November 15, 2001 Beginning November 9, 2001, you will be able to contact the chemists, microbiologists and the office personnel at their own e-mail address. The general laboratory e-mail address will remain the same - aslab@state.wy.us. We encourage you to address your e-mail to the appropriate individual for the fastest response.
New Lab Equipment Improves the Identification of Food Borne Pathogens July 17, 2000 The Analytical Lab is excited to have PCR technology. The new equipment allows us to utilize the polymerase chain reaction to detect the DNA of food spoilage pathogens. This technology will increase turn around times for detection of E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella sp., which can be very crucial in consumer complaint cases. In addition, because the procedure looks for DNA specific to the pathogens, it is much more sensitive than traditional microbiology methods and can be used in cases where food samples may have been mishandled. With traditional microbiological methods, sample handling and temperature abuse can often invalidate results and make it difficult to detect pathogens. PCR technology can be used in these circumstances, as the presence of the live organism isn't necessary for its detection.
RESIDENTIAL WATER TREATMENT DEVICES and TECHNIQUES January 10, 2000 Analytical Services has added several new informational pages to its web site. These new pages provide basic information about: solving water problems, water treatment equipment and the most popular testing programs for homeowners not connected to a public water supply. Most of the ground water in Wyoming is safe and suitable for human consumption just as it comes from the well but some water requires treatment to protect human health and/or to protect the water distribution system, fixtures and appliances. Any questions or comments regarding this material can be directed to the Laboratory Manager.
NEW SERVICE FEE SCHEDULE October 13, 1999 Effective November 1, 1999, Analytical Services' new Service Fee Schedule will go into effect. The lab's fees were last updated January 1, 1992, and since then most of the lab's supplies and consumables have increased dramatically in price. Wyoming Statutes allow the laboratory to offer its services to the public at a reasonable cost but these fees must also be comparable to fees charged by commercial Wyoming laboratories offering similar services. The laboratory has made every effort to keep increases as small as possible. The new fee schedule is available at Cooperative Extension and Conservation District Offices around the state. You may also down load a copy in Microsoft Word of the fee schedule, a Microsoft Excel copy of the Feed, Forage and Fertilizer Analysis Request Form or the Water Analysis Request and Collection Form. These forms contain the new fees, as well as package prices. The package prices are far and away the best deals.
NEW WATER CHEMISTRY ANALYSIS PROGRAMS October 13, 1999 Analytical Services has added four new water chemistry programs. The laboratory dropped similar programs in 1994 due to personnel cuts but with the acquisition of new, faster and fully automated instrumentation, these four programs have been added. The new programs are part of the laboratory's Water Supply Series and are as follows: Not only are these programs new but so are the analytical reports. Accompanying the analytical report is a customized analysis of the data and classification of the water's suitability for various beneficial uses. You can down load a Microsoft Excel file, which contains the Water Analysis Request and Collection Report by going to "Online Forms".
VITAMIN ANALYSIS OF MILK July 22, 1997 Analytical Services is now certified to make official regulatory determinations of vitamins A and D in all types of white milk. If you need samples of white milk analyzed for vitamins A and/or D contact the Lab Manager or call 307-742-2984
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