Clinical Pathology Services LLC

Clinical Pathology Services LLC

GET READY FOR RAMADAN NOW.

CPS LABS FOOD HANDLER SCREENING.

Clinical Pathology Services LLC is pleased to remind its clients of its comprehensive screening program for food handlers through blood tests and stool examination. As we enter the period before Ramadan, when mass catering events such as Iftar happen daily, it is best to be prepared by screening all food handlers in advance.

What is Food handler screening and how can your organisation benefit from it?
A “food handler” is any person who routinely comes into contact with food which is not intended for their personal use. Food also includes water and any other liquids intended for human consumption. Food handler screening is thus the microbiological screening of samples taken from any person involved in the processing, production, manufacturing, packaging, preparation, sale or serving of any foodstuff, including water and beverages to ensure that he/she does not represent any disease spreading threat to the public of which they serve.
Data from published papers in the UK between 1996–2000 have shown an estimated 1,724,315 cases of indigenous food borne disease per year resulting in 21,997 hospitalizations and 687 deaths. The main microorganisms associated with these outbreaks were Campylobacter and Salmonella. The impact of such findings on food outlets was huge and resulted in significant reputational and financial losses (1).  Many foodborne illnesses share common symptoms but cannot be distinguished by symptoms alone.  Diagnosis of a foodborne illness can only be made by performing a laboratory test.

How can CPS assist catering companies and others in the food industry?

CPS will provide comprehensive medical screening for food handlers, by testing staff for organisms causing food borne diseases such as Salmonella, shigella, Campylobacter, Giardia, Entamoeba histolytica, Hepatitis A and Hepatitis E viruses.

CPS will also provide additional pre-employment testing for blood borne pathogens such as HBV and HCV as well as sputum testing for Tuberculosis.

CPS will advise and formulate periodic, post vacation and post illness checks for all food handlers in consultation with the catering company’s Medical and Quality managers.

By working with an internationally accredited laboratory such as CPS and adopting a pro-active food handler screening programme, catering companies can easily demonstrate  due diligence in ensuring good health and safety for their employees and  protection of the public from any untoward food safety incidents.

The main goals of Food handler health screening and related blood testing include:
          Detect any illness or disease carrier state that could pose a risk to food safety.
          To detect, prevent and reduce infections in food handlers and so protect the  public.
          To protect and improve overall employee health in the food and catering  industry and  improve catering employee productivity.
          To improve workplace safety and avoid the healthcare hazards from food borne outbreaks.
          To educate employees about the principals of good personal hygiene.


Some examples of CPS food handler health screening services:
Pre- and post-employment screening for food handlers in the catering industry
Periodic screening of food handlers for pathogens, ova, cysts and parasites
Screening and investigation of incidents or outbreaks of food poisoning or illness
Advisory services on how best to contain any food poisoning outbreaks
Microbiological testing of food, both raw and prepared
Environmental testing of food preparation and storage areas

CPS labs can provide a total workplace solution for food handler screening and testing.
Call now  +971 4 340 6766/ 340 7866  or

contact  Mr. David Isaac, (Head of Marketing)
Mobile Tel: +971 50 657-6905
Email: Marketing@cpslabs.com