DoD Food Analysis and Diagnostic Laboratory (FADL) - Defense Centers for Public Health

The DoD’s premiere Food Analysis and Diagnostic Laboratory (FADL) protects U.S. Service Members and their Families by ensuring food safety, food fitness for consumption, and contractual compliance through microbiological, chemical, and toxicological testing of food and bottled water. The lab also performs diagnostic testing of human and animal sera for Rabies. In addition, FADL also performs testing for Brucellosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme Disease, and other vector-borne and zoonotic diseases. The FADL is home to the DoD Cholinesterase Monitoring Program and Reference Laboratory offering occupational health screening for Federal Employees. Our staff of subject matter experts provide technical expertise to the DoD on integrating laboratory testing and food safety into science-based inspection systems and work with the U.S. Army MEDCoE to identify capability gaps in food protection missions, ensuring future developed systems provide safe sustenance to our Warfighters.

The DOD FADL complies with Association of Official Analytical Collaboration (AOAC) International Guidelines for Laboratories Performing Microbiological and Chemical Analyses of Food, Dietary Supplements, Pharmaceuticals and performs sample analyses under ISO 15189/CLIP External Link and ISO 17025:2012 standards. Please visit the following links for scopes covered under ISO 15189:2012/CLIP and ISO 17025:2012

Mission:

Provide premier Force Health Protection through innovative, adaptive, timely and accurate testing of all food, water, and diagnostic submissions for DoD through a highly efficient and accredited institution now and in the future.

The DoD FADL is currently comprised of four testing sections: Chemistry, Cholinesterase, Diagnostic, and Microbiology; and two administrative sections: Quality Assurance and Field Technical Support.

For information regarding food or water testing, contact the Field Technical Support Section.
For information regarding government owned animals or rabies testing, contact the Diagnostic Section.
Information regarding Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization (FAVN) testing is under Pet Travel Requirements.

Hours of Operation:

07:00 AM - 4:00 PM Central Standard Time Monday-Friday
CLOSED Weekends & Holidays

Questions concerning importation of pets and high-risk countries for dog rabies please visit the links below:

Traveling with Pets External Link

High-Risk Countries for Dog Rabies External Link

Contact Information:

FAVN questions: 210-295-4387/4010/4605 (DSN: 421)
Fax: 210-635-1025
Email Us
Alternate Email

Diagnostic office
Phone: 210-295-4736 (DSN: 421)
Email the Diagnostic Office

Food Protection
Phone: 210-295-4708/4210/4783 (DSN: 421)
Fax: 210-295-4612
Email Food Protection

DoDFADL SARS-CoV2-Survelliance Testing
DODFADL SARS-CoV-2 Surveillance Testing Hotline: 210-778-9511
DoDFADL SARS-CoV2-Survelliance Testing Email

For food and water samples:

DoD Food Analysis and Diagnostic Laboratory
Attn: Food Receiving
2899 Schofield Rd., Suite 2630
JBSA Ft Sam Houston, TX 78234-7583
Sample Receiving: 210-295-4210/4708/4219

For diagnostic samples (FAVN, MWD, etc.):

DoD Food Analysis and Diagnostic Laboratory
Attn: Diagnostic Receiving
2899 Schofield Rd., Suite 2630
diagnostic testing.
JBSA Ft Sam Houston, TX 78234-7583
Sample receiving area: 210-295-4605

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Articles

Information regarding occupational health medical surveillance, reference laboratory & database repository in support of the DoD Chemical Surety Program.

Information regarding the DoD Food Analysis and Diagnostic's Chemistry Section which provides chemical analysis food and bottled water to ensure food safety and protection of the DoD food supply.

Information regarding DoD Food Analysis & Diagnostic Laboratory (FADL) Diagnostic Section tests for diseases of zoonotic & military significance in humans, animals, arthropods, food, and bottled water specimens using serology and molecular diagnostic.

Information regarding DoD FADL's Field Technical Support (FTS) Section which provides guidance on food, water, animal and insect sample submission; test reporting; and the Prime Vendor (PV) Destination Monitoring Program.

Information regarding investigating a food or waterborne disease/illness outbreak.

Information regarding DoD Food Analysis and Diagnostic Laboratory (FADL) sample submission forms, DoD FADL Sample Submission Guide, USDA and CDC shipping certification, and related documents.

Information regarding DoD Food Analysis Diagnostic Laboratory's (FADL) Microbiology Section which performs microbiological analysis for food and water to ensure food safety and protection of the DoD food supply.

Information regarding lab testing required for DoD beneficiaries pets to travel.

Information regarding the DoD Food Analysis and Diagnostic Laboratory's (FADL) Quality Assurance Section which provides quality assurance and oversight for all the FADL's analytical testing.

Information regarding DoD Food Analysis and Diagnostic Laboratory's Surveillance Food Lab Program and training.

Information regarding when to use the Chain of Custody Form (DA Form 7539) for shipping food, water, animal and human samples to the DoD Food Analysis and Diagnostic Lab (FADL)