Objective  To evaluate the laboratory evidence support in the identification of foodborne disease events and related factors in Gansu province, and provide evidence for improving the quality of investigation results of food-borne disease events.

  Methods  Epidemiological survey reports of food borne disease events involving more than 5 patients in Gansu from 2018 to 2020 were collected, and information about laboratory tests or related factors were analyzed, and the conclusions of the reports were evaluated according to the requirements of relevant guidelines and standards.

  Results  A total of 102 survey reports of foodborne disease events were collected, of which 47 had clear etiological conclusions, but only 15 (31.91%) had sufficient laboratory evidences. Chemical events accounted for 83.33%, and the proportions of bacterial and botanical or mushroom poisoning events were only 24.0% and 25.0%, respectively. The other 55 foodborne disease events were unexplained. The analysis suggested that the timely reporting to centers for disease control and prevention had an impact on the collection of samples in the event response, and only 23.08% of test items were appropriate.

  Conclusion  It is necessary to strengthen the laboratory testing for bacterial and botanical or wild mushroom poisoning cases. The proportion of unexplained events can be reduced by improving the sample collection and detection item selection.