The Illinois Department of Public Health has been designated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the certifying agency for approval of microbiological laboratories processing official samples of milk and water. The laboratory certification program ensures that approved laboratories use methods and techniques that are in substantial agreement with the current editions of Standard Methods for the Examination of Dairy Products, Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, and Official Methods of Analysis of the A.O.A.C. (Association of Official Analytical Chemists).

Guidelines to follow for certification of milk and water laboratories
1.    The applicant seeking certification shall contact the Department's public health laboratory
       evaluator to receive a packet containing a copy of the regulations and requirements, a request
       for laboratory certification form and a copy of the evaluation and personnel questionnaire
       forms.

2.    When the applicant feels the requirements can be met, a written request shall be sent to----

       Illinois Department of Public Health
       Division of Laboratories
       Public Health Laboratory Evaluator
       825 N. Rutledge St.
       Springfield, IL 62794-9435

3.    Following receipt of the request, the laboratory evaluator will, upon a mutually agreeable date,
       perform an on-site survey and evaluation of facilities, equipment, performance, procedures and
       preliminary quality control records. The quality assurance plan must be prepared and in use at
       the time of the evaluation.

4.    Periodic analyses of proficiency test split samples are required and laboratory certification shall
       be revoked for lack of participation or poor performance for two successive years.

5.    Every two years, certified laboratories shall be re-evaluated through on-site inspection by
       laboratory certification officers.

Training workshops and seminars are given to provide continuing education and regulatory updates to environmental laboratory personnel.