The MPHL has an extensive internal quality assurance program that defines and implements the quality tools required for monitoring and improving the quality of services provided at the laboratory. The quality assurance unit encompasses both clinical and environmental laboratory service functions.
Responsibilities
The quality assurance section's responsibilities are to:
- review federal regulations for guidance and compliance
- monitor for laboratory performance to assess potential problems and ensure quality laboratory testing
- develop, evaluate, and standardize laboratory processes and tools
- resolve customer service issues relating to laboratory service
The quality assurance section also oversees the control of all MPHL documents, paper and electronic.
The quality assurance section assures that the MPHL maintains compliance with the following regulatory agencies for the specified testing: U.S Environmental Protection Agency for all drinking water testing; U.S. Food and Drug Administration for all dairy and dairy product testing; and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) through the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) for all clinical testing.
Complaints or suggestions for quality improvement can be made by phone directly to the Quality Assurance Office at 601-576-7582 or in a written format addressed to the attention of the Quality Assurance Office.
CLIA Certificate
The Mississippi Public Health Laboratory (MPHL) is a high complexity laboratory that is certified every two years to provide clinical testing. Our CLIA certificate can be viewed and printed below.
EPA and FDA Certification
All public water supplies are required by the federal Safe Drinking Water Act to monitor their water quality through scheduled testing for chemical and bacterial contaminants. These compliance samples must be tested by a US EPA or State certified laboratory. The MPHL serves as the primary testing laboratory for public water supplies in Mississippi. The MPHL is certified by the US EPA Region 4 Office in Atlanta, Georgia to perform bacterial, chemical and radiochemical testing of public drinking water samples. Certification documents are available upon request directly to the Quality Assurance Office.
FDA Certification
The MPHL is granted accreditation status for the dairy and dairy product procedures evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration Laboratory Proficiency and Evaluation Team (LPET). Certification documents are available upon request directly to the Quality Assurance Office.
