Association of Public Health Laboratories
National Center for Public Health Laboratory Leadership
Cohort IV
Our Mission is to promote, protect and preserve the health
and well-being of the people by promoting and enforcing
standards of quality in cooperation with both public and private
agencies at the federal, state, and local levels.
CORE Functions of the Association
of State Public Health Laboratories
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Disease prevention, control, and surveillance
Integrated data management
Reference and specialized testing
Environmental health and protection
Food safety
Laboratory improvement and regulation
Policy development
Emergency response
Public health-related research
Training and education
Partnerships and communication
52 state PHL are the interface
between federal labs, and the
local, hospital and private labs
Federal CDC, FDA, USDA, EPA,
others
Hundreds of Local (county &
city) PHL
Thousands of hospitals, private
labs
Serve As the First Line of Defense in Protecting the
Public from Diseases and Health Hazards
Laboratory
staff training
Technical
Consultation
Clinical,
consumer
product, &
Environmental
testing
Emergency
preparedness
& response
Aid in special
public health
investigation
Disease
surveillance
Research &
new
technology
Work Toward Increasing Laboratory Capacity
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Routine specimen/sample monitoring
Emergency Response
Research and validation of new testing methods
Biosafety training
Result interpretation
Regulatory requirements
Trainings and workshops
Leadership forums
Technical conferences
Networking and lab linkages
Disciplined Approach To Laboratory Testing
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Continuous employee competency evaluation
Annual ethics training
Regulations conformance
Continuous quality improvement
Employee safety training
Continuing education opportunities for employees
24/7 Assigned essential emergency employees
Participating in emergency response proficiency
test exercise
Laboratory Routinely
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Screen babies born in the US for potentially life-threatening
metabolic and genetic disorders
Monitor communities for pathogens that spread in food or through
contact with people or animals
Detect and monitor newly emerging infectious diseases like
West Nile virus, SARS and avian influenza
Test drinking water for bacteria, parasites, pesticides, metals, and
other harmful substances
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Test surface water for fertilizer run off and other contaminations
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Test consumer products, air, and radiation
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Test animals for rabies
Clinical/ Private
Labs
Public Labs
Diagnostic
Testing
Some
Reference
Testing
Interdependent Network
Reference
Testing
Medical
management
Focus =
Individual
health
Some
Diagnostic
Testing
Identify and
Respond to
Public Health
Threats
Surveillance
and
Monitoring
Focus = Public
health
Expanding Ability to Emergency Response
• Center for
Disease Control
& Prevention
(CDC)
• Environmental
Protection
Agency (EPA)
• Laboratory
Response Network
(LRN)
Infectious
Disease
Bacterial
pathogens and
Chemical
Welfare agents
Drinking Water
and other
Environmental
Samples
Foods and
other Consumer
Products
• Food Emergency
Response
Network (FERN)
Standardized diagnostics
Secure communication, alert, reporting
system
Training and instrumentation
standards
Quality standards testing
Assurance of biosafety and biosecurity
RI
Puerto Rico
NAHLN
(animal)
eLRN
FERN
(environmental)
(food)
NPDN
(plant)
LRN
(human)
2011: Groundbreaking for new central lab
2005: Procured funding for new LIMS system
2001: First terrorism event (anthrax)
2000: Lab Emergency Preparedness program established
1985: HIV Section established
1971: Environmental Chemistry Division established
1965: First hereditary disorder screened
1957: Virology Section established
1946: Cytology and clinical chemistry established
1942: Syphilis testing for military
1910: First separate State laboratory facility
1898: Established with $2,500 and 1 employee
History of Your State Public Health Laboratory System
Proactively Seek to be Prepared in the
Changing World
New Born & Childhood Screening ― Endocrinology/Hemoglobinopathy/Biochemical
Virology & Immunology ― Microbial Serology/Vaccine Preventable Virus/Hepatitis Testing/
Virus Isolation & Chlamydia/Rabies Zoonotic & Emerging Disease
Molecular Biology ― Retro-Virology/Viral Disease Assessment /Molecular Epidemiology/Molecular
Diagnostics/Biowatch/BT
Public Health Microbiology ― Enteric and Diarrheal Disease/Foodborne Diseases/
Gonococcal (GC)/Bioterrorism TB/Mycobacteriology
Environmental Chemistry ― Air/Radiation/Organics/Inorganics/Trace Metals/
Chemical Emergency Preparedness & Response
Environmental Microbiology ― Dairy/Water/Food/Shellfish
Strive To Be Better
Grow Stronger
Future Challenges
Secure Federal and State Funding
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To boost the laboratory scientist workforce to
ensure rapid and accurate testing
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To broaden the range of laboratory testing
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To ensure secure electronic communication.
Do You Have A Passion For Public Health…
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Love for science?
Skill for laboratory work?
Motivation for work quality?
Heart for helping others?
Vision for a better world?
Considering A Career In Your State Public
Health Laboratories?
 State-of-the-art instruments and equipment
 Wide range of tests menu platform
 Job security
 Good benefits
 Quality service to customers
 On job trainings
201 W. Preston St. Baltimore, MD 21201
www.dhmh.state.md.us
Student Internship Opportunities
Trains and prepares scientists for careers in public
health laboratories and supports public health
initiatives through Federal, state, or other institution
sponsored programs, such as:
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The Public Health Applications for Student Experience
(PHASE) program, sponsored by APHA
The Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) Laboratory
Fellowship Program, sponsored by APHL and CDC
Find Your Public Health Laboratories Online
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Health alert
Monthly news letter
Trainings and workshops
Testing policies & guidelines
Job opportunities
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