Modified Schedule for October 13 - 17, 2025

Alaska state offices will be closed on Tuesday, November 11th in observance of Veterans' Day.

As a result, the sample acceptance schedule for Nov. 10 - Nov. 14 must be modified, as follows:

Shellfish Growing Water (SGW) samples will be accepted on Wednesday Nov. 12, and by noon on Thursday Nov. 13.

Paralytic Shellfish Toxin (PST) commercial samples will be accepted by noon on Monday Nov. 10, Wednesday Nov. 12, Thursday Nov. 13, and by noon on Friday Nov. 14.

Wet Storage samples will be accepted by 3pm Monday Nov. 10.

Raw meat samples will be accepted Monday Nov. 10, Wednesday Nov. 12, and by noon on Thursday Nov. 13, however meat samples are pooled for efficiency, generally once a week.

Slaughter sponge/swab samples are good for 24 hours per USDA. Slaughter samples will be accepted by noon Monday Nov. 10, Wednesday Nov. 12, and by noon on Thursday Nov. 13, unless written extension by client is provided to hold longer than 24 hours for testing.

Manufactured and Cottage food samples and swabs will be accepted Monday Nov. 10 and Wednesday Nov. 12 – Friday Nov. 14, however the testing will be conducted when samples are pooled for efficiency.

Dairy testing is scheduled once a month, as usual, and is next scheduled for the week of Nov. 17th.

Paralytic Shellfish Toxin (PST) recreational/research (PCOX) sample will be accepted any workday; however the testing will be as soon as possible given current backlog.

Normal sample acceptance schedules resume on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025.

Assistance is available with timing of sample collections, completion of submission forms, packaging, temperature requirements, shipping, and sample tracking. Sampling questions, planned sampling activities, and shipping notifications, can be made to DEC.EH-Lab-ShippingReceiving@alaska.gov or 907-375-8231.

Regards,

Patryce D. McKinney, MBA

Chief, Environmental Health Laboratory