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Research Infrastructure Registry in Cyprus
HomeResearch Infrastructures Database  /  Biological and Medical Sciences  /  Environmental Health Research Facilities  /  Food Microbiology Laboratory, Cyprus State General Laboratory

Food Microbiology Laboratory, Cyprus State General Laboratory

GENERAL INFORMATION

Description and purpose of the Research Infrastructure
Mission: Protection of public health and encouragement of Good Manufacturing Practice in the Food Industry, through the official microbiological control of foodstuffs. Objectives: Support the Public Health Services (PHS) of the Ministry of Health with the monitoring of, mainly, ready-to-eat foodstuffs from the market, for pathogenic and hygiene indicator microorganisms. Support the PHS for the microbiological control of high risk foodstuffs imported from 3rd countries. Support in the PHS for the investigation of foodborne outbreaks and consumer complaints. The Laboratory also collaborates with the Department of Agriculture for the monitoring of fruits and vegetables at primary production level. The quality of analyses is maintained through the implementation of an internal quality control system according to ISO 17025:2017. Research and other activities: The laboratory collaborates with the European Reference Laboratories for Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) and coagulase positive staphylococci (CPS), respectively, for the validation and implementation of a molecular characterization method for Lm and for the implementation of a method for the molecular detection of staphylococcal enterotoxigenic genes in CPS strains. It also participates/has participated in the European research projects DiTect and EuroBiotox.

USEFUL FIGURES

Personnel

6

Personnel

Male

50%

Male

Female

50%

Female

Publications

2

Publications

ACCESS TO INFRASTRUCTURE

  • Academia

CONTACT INFO

INFORMATION OF INSTRUMENTATION OPERATING IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE

Incubators
  • Name:  Incubators
  • Description:  For the incubation and growth of microorganism cultures at optimal temperatures according to standard methods
  • Units:  5
  • Hosting Laboratory / Department:  Food Microbiology Laboratory
Brief description of the utilization of the instrument:
Detection/enumeration of pathogenic and hygiene indicator microorganisms in food
Funding Source: 
  • National

Available for access
by external users

Laminar Flow Cabinet
  • Name:  Laminar Flow Cabinet
  • Description:  Processing of food samples (Dilutions, inoculation of culture media) while protecting them from external contamination
  • Units:  2
  • Hosting Laboratory / Department:  Food Microbiology Laboratory
Brief description of the utilization of the instrument:
Processing of food samples (Dilutions, inoculation of culture media) while protecting them from external contamination
Funding Source: 
  • National

Available for access
by external users

Biological Safety Cabinet Class II
  • Name:  Biological Safety Cabinet Class II
  • Description:  Subculture of microorganism cultures and generally, handling of contaminated samples and cultures under protection of the sample/culture from external contamination and of the user from contamination from the sample
  • Units:  1
  • Hosting Laboratory / Department:  Food Microbiology Laboratory
Brief description of the utilization of the instrument:
Subculture of microorganism cultures and generally, handling of contaminated samples and cultures
Funding Source: 
  • National

Available for access
by external users

Light Microscope
  • Name:  Light Microscope
  • Description:  Observation of microorganism cultures under magnification
  • Units:  1
  • Hosting Laboratory / Department:  Food Microbiology Laboratory
Brief description of the utilization of the instrument:
Observation of microorganism cultures under magnification
Funding Source: 
  • National

Available for access
by external users

Centrifuge
  • Name:  Centrifuge
  • Description:  Centrifugation
  • Units:  2
  • Hosting Laboratory / Department:  Food Microbiology Laboratory
Brief description of the utilization of the instrument:
Centrifugation of samples for processing, extraction of toxins and viruses
Funding Source: 
  • National

Available for access
by external users