Local Services

Food, Water and Environmental Microbiology Laboratories

NO ALT TEXT The Food, Water and Environmental Microbiology (FW&E) Microbiology Testing Service is provided by an integrated network of laboratories in England and Wales. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) is responsible for the delivery of this service in England.

Some FW&E Laboratories are situated within the HPA as part of the Regional Microbiology Network; some are within local NHS Trusts. The Welsh FW&E Laboratories are managed by the National Public Health Service - Wales.

The FW&E laboratories provide specialist microbiology services that are essential to support local authorities and the Food Standards Agency in carrying out relevant statutory functions. Each HPA Region is able to provide a complete range of accredited food, dairy, water and environmental tests from one or more the FW&E laboratories within the Region.

In addition, the FW&E Laboratory provides expert advice and access to reference services on food, dairy, environmental and waterborne infections to HPA professionals, epidemiologists, environmental health staff, to local and regional health protection teams and to other agencies.

National microbiological survey data and the results from public health investigations are collated nationally to provide national data sets. These can be used to create the evidence base to inform the HPA and other bodies.

FW&E Laboratories also participate in R&D and provide in-service training to FW&E and HPA staff as well as training to staff from external stakeholder organisations such as Local Authorities.

Recent Updates:

Nov 2008: FW&E update for Stakeholders (November 2008) (PDF, 545 KB)

Mar 2007: Consultation on proposals for the Health Protection Agency (HPA) Development of a National Network for the Delivery of Food, Water and Environmental (FW&E) Microbiology Services

FWE Network Structure

Twenty-four laboratories in England and four in Wales, an interim national FW&E Lead Microbiologist supported by nine FW&E co-ordinators based in the HPA Regions plus one in Wales.

This structure enables an integrated service at local, regional and national levels so that any potential outbreak can be quickly identified and promptly dealt with.

Department of Gastrointestinal Infections

The FW&E Microbiology Service is supported by the Department of Gastrointestinal Infections (DGI), HPA Centre for Infections, Colindale which comprises the Environmental and Enteric Diseases Department (EEDD), Laboratory of Enteric Pathogens, and the Food Safety Microbiology Laboratory. The DGI works closely with the Veterinary Laboratory Agency and the Food Standards Agency