Kathleen Thorsted, Microbiologist

Christopher Fullmer, Microbiologist

Alyssa Warner, Microbiologist

The Dairy Testing Lab (DTL) is comprised of FDA-certified microbiologists who implement the federal Grade A Milk Testing Program for the state of Utah. They also perform other testing requested by the Dairy Regulatory Department of the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food such as milk component, egg plant water, and dairy complaint testing.

The federal Grade A Milk Testing Program is administered by the U.S. Public Health Service and the FDA and ensures the safety of Grade A dairy products. In this program Grade A dairy products (pasteurized fluid milk, cream, yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese) are tested for total microorganisms (to include coliform), total somatic cells, and inhibitors.  Grade A dairy products are also tested to ensure pasteurization has occurred.

The DTL ensures that the Grade A dairy plant laboratories in the state of Utah are properly analyzing for drug residues in all incoming milk-for-processing samples. The DTL also certifies commercial laboratories on behalf of the FDA to perform Grade A Milk Testing for the state of Utah.

The Dairy Testing Laboratory is accredited in accordance with the recognized International Standard ISO/IEC 17025:2005.