Science & Research Field Science and Laboratories The success of
FDA activities to protect the public health often depends on the
ability of the Agency's laboratories to quickly and accurately
analyze samples. To prevent distribution of a product that has
been found to be in violation of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic
Act, FDA uses its field laboratories to analyze samples and
report results for regulatory action. The Office of Regulatory
Affairs (ORA) operates 13 high throughput field laboratories,
located strategically across the continental United States and
Puerto Rico, to support FDA's mission to protect the public
health and to create new knowledge in the field of regulatory
science. Below are profiles for each of ORA's 13 field
laboratories. ORA's Laboratory Manual, now available in the left
navigation area, is the reference manual for FDA laboratory
personnel. It provides FDA personnel with information on
internal procedures to be used as an agency policy for testing
consumer products, training of labora