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The Association of Public Health Laboratories proudly works to strengthen laboratory systems serving the public's health; our activities support laboratories in the US and around the world. Learn more about APHL.
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Lab Culture News

Read our most recent reporting from Lab Culture News for timely insight on the impact of public health laboratory science and culture:

Lab Culture News article
06.10.26
Responding to Ebola Threats: Three APHL Stories Highlight How Laboratories Prepare and Detect
There’s a new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, which the World Health Organization calls a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Read more about the role of public health labs in surveillance and detection.
Public Health Preparedness and Response, Global Health, Disease Surveillance
Lab Culture News article
06.02.26
75 Years of Environmental Testing: What It’s Accomplished, Where It’s Going
Seventy-five years ago, post-war industrialization left cities shrouded in smog. Synthetic chemicals were making their way into household cleaners. Manufacturing waste and human sewage ended up in rivers. How did the country respond?
Environmental Health, Environmental Exposures, Environmental Monitoring
Lab Culture News article
06.01.26
What Have 75 Years of HeLa Cells Taught Us About Medical Ethics? Henrieta Lacks’ Family Shares Their Perspective
Henrietta Lacks died of cervical cancer in 1951. Prior to her death—and without her knowledge—doctors removed cells from her cancerous tumor. If we could go back to 1951, would Henrietta have agreed to having her cells used for research?
General, Training and Professional Development, Career Development
Lab Culture News article
05.26.26
The Impact of a Pilot Wastewater-Based Surveillance Project in Africa—and Thoughts About Its Future
Six African countries recently completed a years-long pilot wastewater-based surveillance project. The project’s aim was to assess how well WWBS can monitor disease outbreaks and guide public health decision-making.
Global Health, Disease Surveillance
Lab Culture News article
05.20.26
Creating More Modern Laboratory Systems in Uganda
In an effort to modernize laboratory systems and procedures within the country, Uganda launched its Sample Tracking App, an enhanced laboratory data repository (LDR) and a central dashboard in February.
Informatics, Global Health, Laboratory Operations and Systems
Lab Culture News article
05.19.26
Andes Virus Makes Its Way to US: What We Know—and How Public Health Laboratories Are Responding
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with other international agencies, is responding to a multi-nation cluster of the Andes virus linked to travel on the cruise ship MV Hondius.
Infectious Diseases, Public Health Preparedness and Response, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Viruses
Lab Culture News article
05.15.26
Expanding Sequencing Training Across the Americas (Disponible en Español)
Honduran laboratory scientists, in partnership with APHL and with funding from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Global Health Security Partnerships, held a sequencing training in Panama for Central and South American countries.
Global Health, Training and Professional Development, Workforce Development
Lab Culture News article
05.15.26
APHL Trainers Hold Workshop on Data Actionability in Chile (Disponible en Español)
Collecting data is one thing. But how do you actually put it to good use? That’s the question posed by APHL trainers at a recent workshop to members of the Instituto de Salud Publica (ISP) in Santiago, Chile.
Global Health, Training and Professional Development, Workforce Development
Lab Culture News article
05.07.26
Lab Culture ep. 36: "And who knew that today I stand here with my colleagues as the incoming president for APHL."
General, Podcast, Quality and Safety Systems
Lab Culture News article
05.06.26
2026 APHL Annual Conference: Day 3
Today was the final full day of the conference and it was an award winning day loaded with spirit—literally!
General
Lab Culture News article
05.05.26
2026 APHL Annual Conference: Day 2
The second day of the 2026 APHL Annual Conference in Baltimore, MD was another eventful day! From the student STEM event to a candid plenary with the family of Henrietta Lacks, day two did not disappoint.
General, Outreach
Lab Culture News article
05.05.26
The Rules of Public Health Action Are Changing. How to Adapt and Win Back Public Trust
The rules that once guided public health action—from leaning into the science to putting stock in responsible, unbiased news sources—are changing, said Joshua Sharfstein, MD, who delivered the keynote address at the 2026 APHL Annual Conference.
General, Training and Professional Development, Career Development, Workforce Development
Lab Culture News article
05.05.26
2026 APHL Annual Conference: Day 1
The 2026 APHL Annual Conference kicked off in Baltimore, MD! Check out these highlights.
General
Lab Culture News article
04.23.26
Lab Scientists Under the Microscope: Meet Crystal Barrett
In celebration of Lab Week 2026, we’re putting names and faces to some of the thousands of public health laboratory professionals who work tirelessly behind the scenes protecting America’s health.
General, APHL, Quality Systems and Analytics, Laboratory Operations and Systems
Lab Culture News article
04.22.26
Lab Scientists Under the Microscope: Meet Nydea Espinoza
In celebration of Lab Week 2026, we’re putting names and faces to some of the thousands of public health laboratory professionals who work tirelessly behind the scenes protecting America’s health.
General, APHL, Environmental Health, Workforce Development
Lab Culture News article
04.20.26
Lab Scientists Under the Microscope: Meet Elizabeth White
In celebration of Lab Week 2026, we’re putting names and faces to some of the thousands of public health laboratory professionals who work tirelessly behind the scenes protecting America’s health.
General, APHL, Informatics, Workforce Development
Lab Culture News article
04.15.26
Lab Scientists Under the Microscope: Meet Miriam Schachter
In celebration of Lab Week 2026, we’re putting names and faces to some of the thousands of public health laboratory professionals who work tirelessly behind the scenes protecting America’s health.
General, APHL, Newborn Screening and Genetics, Workforce Development
Lab Culture News article
04.07.26
Public Health Laboratory Work May Be Invisible—but It’s Also Indispensable: Perspective From a Public Health Laboratory Professional
Some of the most important returns in public health are written in the things that never got worse. It is important to communicate that to the public.
General, Advocacy
Lab Culture News article
03.30.26
How One State’s Public Health Laboratory Is Using Biomonitoring to Protect Kids
Due to their small stature, developing systems and normal play behaviors, young children are particularly vulnerable to the health hazards caused by the heavy metals and toxic chemicals found in some consumer products and the environment.
Environmental Health, Environmental Exposures, Environmental Monitoring
Lab Culture News article
03.24.26
World Tuberculosis Day Is March 24: 6 Questions for a 20-Year Veteran of TB Testing
In recognition of World Tuberculosis Day, we sat down with Kimberlee Musser, PhD, chief of bacterial disease, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health (NYDOH), and asked her six questions about tackling this ancient disease in a modern world.
Infectious Diseases, Tuberculosis
Lab Culture News article
03.19.26
How Public Health Laboratories and Federal Partners Uncovered a Multistate Outbreak of Dangerous Salmonella Infections
Between November 2025 and January 2026, seven people in seven states (as of this writing) became ill with an extensively drug-resistant strain of Salmonella Newport. All the illnesses were traced to certain lots of Rosabella-brand moringa powder.
Food Safety, General, Food Testing, Foodborne Disease, Genomics and Sequencing, Antimicrobial Resistance
Lab Culture News article
03.17.26
In 2023, a Growing—and Deadly—Outbreak of Listeria Was Reported in Washington State. How PulseNet Helped Lead Investigators to the Cause
In the first few months of 2023, six people in Washington State were sickened with the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono), which can be found in food, water, soil and animals. Three people ultimately died from infection with the bacteria,
Food Safety, General, Food Testing, Foodborne Disease, Genomics and Sequencing
Lab Culture News article
03.02.26
This Year’s Flu Season Has Largely Been Driven by a New Subclade. How Public Health Laboratories Have Responded
What’s behind this active flu season? Experts point to the emergence of a new variant of influenza A(H3N2) known as subclade K.
Infectious Diseases, General, Viruses, Respiratory Diseases
Lab Culture News article
02.18.26
APHL Is 75! We Take a Look Back—and Forward—With the Organization’s Longest-Tenured Employee
APHL is turning 75, and Carol Clark, the organization’s chief operating officer, has been with the organization for 29 of those years—years when APHL’s mission and membership have grown by leaps and bounds.
General, APHL
Lab Culture News article
02.03.26
Celebrating 30 Years of PulseNet: How It Detects Disease—and Saves Lives
In celebration of PulseNet's milestone birthday, we rounded up stories we’ve published illustrating the tremendous impact the network’s had on disease surveillance and outbreak detection.
Food Safety, Foodborne Disease
Lab Culture News article
01.28.26
Measles 2025: A Retrospective on a Record-Breaking Year
2025 was the worst year for measles cases in the US since 1992. How three states and their labs responded.
Infectious Diseases, Viruses
Lab Culture News article
01.13.26
APHL’s New Website Launches Soon. Here Are 5 Things We’re Excited About!
APHL’s new website (our first redesign in 10 years!) launches in just a few short weeks. What exciting changes are in store?
APHL
Lab Culture News article
01.06.26
How the Decentralization of Mpox Testing Led to Faster Patient Care in Kenya
Regional laboratories in Kenya can now perform their own mpox testing instead of sending specimens to the country’s National Public Health Laboratory. It’s an important advance enabling patients to get test results in hours instead of days.
Global Health, Laboratory Operations and Systems
Lab Culture News article
12.15.25
2025 in Review: Our Top Stories of the Year
As the year closes, we look back through our Lab Matters articles, podcasts and APHL Blog posts to bring you 12 of 2025’s most impactful public health laboratory stories.
General
Lab Culture News article
12.09.25
Why Are Bagged Greens So Frequently Recalled? And Should You Eat Them?
Bagged greens are no strangers to the US Food and Drug Administration’s recalled list. But what makes them so problematic? We asked a food safety expert involved in recalls for her insights.
Food Safety, Foodborne Disease
Lab Culture News article
12.08.25
APHL Convenes Newborn Whole Genome Sequencing Initiative, Ensuring Public Health Laboratory Input
Can whole genome sequencing (WGS) be integrated into the existing newborn screening system in a way that’s practical, responsible and beneficial for families? That’s what a new initiative is aiming to find out.
Newborn Screening and Genetics, Genomics and Sequencing
Lab Culture News article
12.01.25
Lab Culture ep. 35: Oregon's One Health approach to Yersinia enterocolitica case
How did a baby become ill with Yersinia enterocolitica, bacteria most often found in pork, when no contaminated food was found in the home? In this episode of Lab Culture, Dr. Karim Morey, a microbiologist with the Oregon State Public Health...
Food Safety
Lab Culture News article
11.24.25
Today and Every Day—Thank You Public Health Professionals!
On the Monday before Thanksgiving, APHL, along with Research!America and other leading public health organizations, celebrates Public Health Thank You Day. And in a year when we've had many challenges, our thank you couldn’t be louder and more heartfelt!
Training and Professional Development, Workforce Development
Lab Culture News article
11.20.25
2025 APHL-CDC Scholarship Recipients/HOSA Students Discuss What Excites Them About Laboratory Science
For the second year in a row, Career Pathways in Public Health Laboratory Science: An APHL-CDC Initiative funded $2,000 scholarships for 10 students interested in pursuing careers in laboratory science. Learn more about what fuels their ambitions.
Training and Professional Development, Workforce Development
Lab Culture News article
11.17.25
A Multistate Outbreak of Infant Botulism Has Been Linked to Baby Formula: What We Know So Far—and How Laboratories Are Responding 
By Donna Campisano, specialist, Communications, APHL Federal, state and local partners, including the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the California Department of  Public Health (CDPH) Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention...
Food Safety
Lab Culture News article
11.17.25
The Exciting Promise of Wastewater-Based Surveillance: An Ongoing Pilot Program in Tanzania Is Showing Potential
Tanzania is the latest of several African nations taking part in a wastewater-based surveillance (WWBS) pilot project. By analyzing wastewater, public health experts can spot rising infection trends before people even seek care.
Global Health, Disease Surveillance
Lab Culture News article
11.13.25
When the World’s Global Health System Is Strong, so Is America
In today’s interconnected world, what impacts Africa can impact Asia can impact the Americas. And it all can happen in a matter of hours. But when one country’s public health system is strong, all countries benefit.
Global Health, Advocacy
Lab Culture News article
11.10.25
How Can a Radiochemistry Certificate Enhance Your Career? Your Laboratory? Your Community? Recent Graduates Share Their Insights
The first cohort of 12 students recently graduated from the University of Iowa Radiochemistry Graduate Certificate program, developed and launched with financial and technical support from APHL and CDC.
Environmental Health, Workforce Development
Lab Culture News article
10.17.25
Iconic 2025 Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month: Art Contest Winners and Celebration Wrap-up
Thank you to everyone who made this year’s Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month absolutely iconic! We enjoyed seeing pictures from your photo booths and hearing about your celebrations. Public health laboratories often exist in the background...
Lab Culture News article
10.14.25
Newborn Screening Symposium Keynote Speakers Stress Messaging, Resilience 
The keynote speakers at APHL’s Newborn Screening Symposium 2025 urged the hundreds of laboratory and public health professionals in attendance to reset, recharge and—with renewed enthusiasm—tell the important stories of how newborn screening saves lives.
Newborn Screening and Genetics, Heritable Disorders
Lab Culture News article
10.09.25
3 Moms Share Their Experiences with Newborn Screening—and the Life-Changing Impact It’s Had on Their Families
Three moms at APHL’s 2025 Newborn Screening Symposium took the stage to give the audience a glimpse into their “lived experiences” caring for children with genetic disorders that can be picked up by newborn screening.
Newborn Screening and Genetics, Heritable Disorders
Lab Culture News article
10.03.25
6 Public Health Laboratories in 6 States Share Stories of ELC Funding Impact
ELC funding protects Americans' lives by enabling laboratories to invest in crucial equipment maintenance, develop more modern reporting and testing systems and perform critical surveillance on emerging diseases.
Infectious Diseases, Laboratory Operations and Systems
Lab Culture News article
09.23.25
Malaria is Rare in the US—but Recent Cases Have Public Health Officials Taking Notice
Within a matter of weeks this summer, two individuals on opposite coasts tested positive for malaria. What’s behind these locally acquired cases? And what are labs doing to detect malaria?
Infectious Diseases, Vector-borne Diseases
Lab Culture News article
09.22.25
Lab Scientists Under the Microscope: Meet Jean Rock
Last spring, in celebration of Lab Week, we profiled public health laboratory professionals from around the country. The response was so positive, we decided to put more scientists under the microscope for Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month.
Training and Professional Development, Workforce Development
Lab Culture News article
09.15.25
Lab Scientists Under the Microscope: Meet Hannah Mims
Last spring, in celebration of Lab Week, we profiled public health laboratory professionals around the country. The response was so positive, we decided to put more scientists under the microscope for Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month.
Training and Professional Development, Workforce Development
Lab Culture News article
09.10.25
Fentanyl is Being Laced With a New Deadly Substance. How One State Laboratory is Responding
A new deadly drug is making its way into America’s illicit drug supply. How one state laboratory is guiding efforts to inform public health officials about the use of of medetomidine, a powerful sedative being found in the nation’s fentanyl supply.
Environmental Health, Drugs and Overdose
Lab Culture News article
09.08.25
Lab Scientists Under the Microscope: Meet Julie Viruez
Last spring, in celebration of Lab Week, we profiled public health laboratory professionals from around the country. The response was so positive, we decided to put more scientists under the microscope for Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month.
Training and Professional Development, Workforce Development
Lab Culture News article
09.02.25
Detor at One Year: From Implementation to Growing Impact 
Detor, an APHL-developed intermediary solution that links a hospital’s electronic health records (EHR) system with a public health laboratory’s information management system, is a year old!
Informatics, Data Management
Lab Culture News article
09.02.25
Lab Scientists Under the Microscope: Meet Kristina Hsieh
Last spring, in celebration of Lab Week, we profiled public health laboratory professionals from around the country. The response was so positive, we decided to put more scientists under the microscope for Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month.
Training and Professional Development, Workforce Development
Lab Culture News article
09.01.25
5th Annual QIAGEN-sponsored Microbe Masterpieces & Chemistry Creations Art Contest
​Get out those art supplies because it’s almost time to unleash your creativity! This Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month in September, you can enter the 5th Annual QIAGEN-sponsored Microbe Masterpieces & Chemistry Creations Art Contest!...
Lab Culture News article
08.15.25
Wastewater-Based Surveillance Serves as Early Warning System in Mozambique
Wastewater-based surveillance (WWBS) is not only a cost-effective way to monitor disease outbreaks in a community—it’s also highly accurate. Case in point? The WWBS program recently piloted by Mozambique.
Global Health, Disease Surveillance
Lab Culture News article
08.06.25
From Report to Recall: Meet the Professionals Behind a Foodborne Illness Investigation
Foodborne illness investigations don’t occur in a silo. They require the expertise of a variety of individuals, each performing a vital function and working in partnership.
Food Safety, Food Testing
Lab Culture News article
07.22.25
One of Mankind’s Oldest Diseases Is Still a Threat: What Public Health Labs Are Doing to Detect and Respond to Rabies 
Each year some 100,000 Americans will receive treatment for possible exposure to rabies and 10 will die. How public health labs detect this deadly virus and keep communities safe.
Infectious Diseases, Viruses
Lab Culture News article
06.30.25
3 Ways AIMS Helps Patients Like You
Today, the essential health data that can save the life of a newborn in the NICU or detect the cancerous tumor of a loved one while it’s still in its early stages can be shared in near real time, thanks to APHL’s Informatics Messaging Platform (AIMS).
Informatics, Data Management
Lab Culture News article
06.24.25
How One Scientist Committed to Helping Shape the Next Generation of Public Health Laboratory Professionals  
Ori Roe, a research scientist I at the California Department of Toxic Substances Control, is an APHL Public Health Laboratory ambassador and one of the developers of Toxic Crusaders, a curriculum for California high school students.
Environmental Health, Career Development
Lab Culture News article
06.18.25
What Happens When Food Makes You Sick? The Crucial Role of Public Health Laboratories
Salmonella in cucumbers. E. coli in lettuce. Listeria in deli meat. Food can nourish, but it can also make us sick. Public health laboratories play an important role in identifying—and limiting—foodborne-disease outbreaks.
Food Safety, Food Testing
Lab Culture News article
06.05.25
Honoring World Food Safety Day: How Science Keeps You Safe
June 7 is World Food Safety Day. In honor of this day, we rounded up some recent blog posts highlighting the important work of food safety scientists and the essential information science contributes to solving foodborne illness cases.
Food Safety, Food Testing
Lab Culture News article
05.28.25
How Next Generation Sequencing Is Revolutionizing Food Safety 
Lab scientists used to rely on culturing samples to get genotyping information about a pathogen. But it didn’t give the kind of details that would help them link cases and uncover outbreaks with speed and confidence. Enter next generation sequencing.
Food Safety, Food Testing
Lab Culture News article
05.23.25
4 Public Health Laboratory Professionals Answer 4 Questions About APHL’s Twinning Initiative
Four public health laboratory directors convened a session at APHL’s 2025 Annual Conference to discuss their twinning relationships with public health labs throughout the world.
Global Health, Workforce Development
Lab Culture News article
05.21.25
What You Need to Know About Oropouche—and What Laboratories Are Doing to Track Cases
The bite of the tiny midge can pack a big punch. That’s because midges can carry the virus Oropouche, which is endemic in certain parts of the world and is spreading, including into the US. What one public health laboratory is doing to stay prepared.
Infectious Diseases, Vector-borne Diseases
Lab Culture News article
05.19.25
Contamination Chronicles: How Laboratory Scientists Cracked Three Unusual Food Safety Cases
A man becomes ill after eating a chicken sandwich, but all that’s left to test are pepper fragments and the plate. A cat with no known exposure to dairy cattle, chickens or wild birds dies of HPAI. How Laboratory scientists cracked these and other cases.
Food Safety, Food Testing
Lab Culture News article
05.13.25
Preparing for Emerging Infectious Diseases: Creating a Recipe for Success
Collaboration and coordination are essential to any public health response. Attendees of APHL ID Lab Con 2025 learned how both are being used to contain emerging infectious diseases.
Infectious Diseases, Viruses
Lab Culture News article
05.12.25
Lab Culture ep. 34: "We need to be obnoxiously positive and share how awesome we are."
At the 2025 APHL Annual Conference in Portland, Oregon, APHL’s current board president, president-elect and CEO sat down for a conversation about the challenges and successes of the past year. APHL President Dr. Megan Crumpler (director, Orange...
Training and Professional Development, General, Workforce Development
Lab Culture News article
05.08.25
2025 APHL Annual Conference — Day 3
Today was exciting and energizing! Attendees started the day with the sunrise walk and the annual awards breakfast. Find the complete list of award winners here — congratulations to all! Check out more highlights from the final full day of the 2025...
Lab Culture News article
05.07.25
APHL Honors 2025 Annual Award Winners
For Immediate Release Portland, Oregon, May 7, 2025 – The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) is pleased to announce the winners of its annual awards for outstanding achievements in laboratory science, creative approaches to solving...
Lab Culture News article
05.07.25
2025 APHL Annual Conference — Day 2
It was another great day at the 2025 APHL Annual Conference! From the Innovate! Sessions to the rapid poster presentations to the APHL Bark Park, the second day of the conference was anything but boring.</p> ...
Lab Culture News article
05.06.25
Public Health Has a Marketing Problem: APHL 2025 Keynote Speaker Addresses How to Fix It
By Donna Campisano, specialist, Communications, APHL “Visibility isn’t vanity. Talking about the value of public health is crucial to the survival of our field and our nation.” Those were some of the opening remarks of Brian Castrucci, DrPH,...
Lab Culture News article
05.06.25
2025 APHL Annual Conference — Day 1
The 2025 APHL Annual Conference kicked off today in Portland, Oregon! One key highlight of the day was the Dr. Katherine Kelley Distinguished Lecture delivered by Dr. Brian Castrucci, president and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation. His presentation...
Lab Culture News article
04.25.25
Lab Scientists Under the Microscope: Meet Jason Wholehan
In celebration of Lab Week 2025, we put a handful of laboratory scientists under the microscope, peppering them with questions that shine a light on their professional and personal lives.
Training and Professional Development, Workforce Development
Lab Culture News article
04.24.25
Lab Scientists Under the Microscope: Meet Suzanne Stanton
In celebration of Lab Week 2025, we put a handful of laboratory scientists under the microscope, peppering them with questions that shine a light on their professional and personal lives.
Training and Professional Development, Workforce Development
Lab Culture News article
04.23.25
Lab Scientists Under the Microscope: Meet Eric Vaughn
In celebration of Lab Week 2025, we put a handful of laboratory scientists under the microscope, peppering them with questions that shine a light on their professional and personal lives.
Training and Professional Development, Workforce Development
Lab Culture News article
04.22.25
Lab Scientists Under the Microscope: Meet Ashlee Hubert
In celebration of Lab Week 2025, we put a handful of laboratory scientists under the microscope, peppering them with questions that shine a light on their professional and personal lives.
Training and Professional Development, Workforce Development
Lab Culture News article
04.21.25
Lab Scientists Under the Microscope: Meet Michael Stevenson
In celebration of Lab Week 2025, we put a handful of laboratory scientists under the microscope, peppering them with questions that shine a light on their professional and personal lives.
Training and Professional Development, Workforce Development
Lab Culture News article
04.16.25
Wildfire Season Is Off to an Early and Deadly Start. How State and Local Agencies Analyze the Dangerous Pollutants in Wildfire Smoke
Wildfire season typically runs from spring to fall, but this year it’s coming in hot. In the first few months of 2025 alone, nearly 17,400 wildfires have scorched roughly 823,000 acres across the US.
Environmental Health, Environmental Monitoring
Lab Culture News article
04.09.25
One Health in Action: A Collaborative Approach to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Viruses  
Zoonotic diseases can be challenging to control. One Health is an approach that recognizes the many important factors that impact human health and the role of interactions between animals, people and the environment.
Infectious Diseases, Viruses
Lab Culture News article
03.28.25
Double Trouble: When Co-Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance Collide, Challenges Ensue 
Co-infections are cause for alarm, and some can create serious public health challenges—especially when antimicrobial resistance (AR) enters the equation.
Infectious Diseases, Antimicrobial Resistance
Lab Culture News article
03.26.25
How Three Public Health Laboratories Partnered to Detect One Rare Virus
Lassa fever is a virus endemic in West Africa. When it was suspected that a patient in Iowa might be infected with the illness, three state laboratories pooled their resources and personnel to identify the pathogen not often seen here.
Infectious Diseases, Viruses
Lab Culture News article
03.24.25
APHL Partnership Strengthens National Laboratory Sequencing Capacity
At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Honduras had no genetic sequencing capacity. The country’s public health laboratories were forced to send all samples to nearby Panama for sequencing. Fast forward five years.
Global Health, Genomics and Sequencing
Lab Culture News article
03.20.25
Thailand Reports Its First Clade I Mpox Cluster: How Public Health Partnerships Worked to Identify the Cases  
In August 2024, Thailand reported its first-ever case of clade Ib mpox. By January 2025, three more people in Thailand were diagnosed with the infection. How APHL worked with colleagues in Thailand to use genomic sequencing to connect the cases.
Global Health, Viruses
Lab Culture News article
03.11.25
New Hampshire Reported the Country’s Third Clade I Mpox Case: How the State’s Public Health Laboratory System Sprung Into Action
When it comes to detecting an infectious disease and launching an effective public health response, quick action is everything. And New Hampshire’s response to a recent clade I mpox case—the third in the nation—was nothing if not quick.
Infectious Diseases, Viruses
Lab Culture News article
03.05.25
AIMS: Delivering Critical Health Data at the Speed of Outbreaks 
The quick gathering and dissemination of information—about what diseases are emerging, their dominant strains, whether there are clusters in communities—are all crucial to an effective public health response. Enter AIMS.
Informatics, Data Management
Lab Culture News article
02.12.25
Tuberculosis Cases Are Rising in the US. How Public Health Laboratories Are Stopping the Spread
To prevent TB transmission and death, cases need to be detected quickly, treatment initiated promptly and the contacts of those infected identified. And all of that requires a strong and supported public health laboratory system.
Infectious Diseases, Tuberculosis
Lab Culture News article
02.07.25
Uganda Is Experiencing Its Eighth Ebola Outbreak in 25 Years. How the US Is Staying Prepared
The Ministry of Health of Uganda recently declared an outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), its eighth such outbreak since 2000.What's the US doing to prepare should Ebola arrive?
Global Health, Viruses
Lab Culture News article
01.15.25
Norovirus Is Spiking: Why the Surge and How to Protect Yourself
Norovirus is surging, and experts say one reason is a new dominant strain.
Infectious Diseases, Viruses
Lab Culture News article
01.07.25
How Kenya Built a Wastewater-based Surveillance System: 6 Questions Answered
A wastewater-based surveillance pilot study in Kenya employed the use of next generation sequencing to detect SARS-CoV-2 and its emerging variants.
Global Health, Infectious Diseases, Disease Surveillance
Lab Culture News article
12.17.24
5 of the Biggest Public Health Stories of 2024
By Donna Campisano, specialist, Communications, APHL There’s been the spread of Avian flu. The higher-than-usual number of dengue cases. The first known case of clade I mpox in the US. The worst Listeria outbreak in 13 years. And the list goes on....
Environmental Health, Food Safety, Global Health, Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
12.10.24
Developing Laboratory Leadership Despite War: GLLP Graduates First Ukrainian Cohort
By Donna Campisano, specialist, Communications, APHL War disrupts everything—including laboratory work. But it didn’t prevent 12 Ukrainian laboratory scientists from pursuing new skills in professional development and graduating from the Global...
Global Health
Lab Culture News article
11.22.24
Giving Thanks for Public Health
By Donna Campisano, specialist, Communications, APHL With Thanksgiving approaching, it seems appropriate that we pause to give thanks for the people who help ensure a healthy life is possible for all—the public health workforce. On Monday November...
Lab Culture News article
11.20.24
Just in Time for the Holidays: 10 Food Safety Myths—Busted
By Donna Campisano, specialist, Communications, APHL Should you wash that turkey before you roast it? Put the pumpkin pie on the counter until dessert time? Let the kids lick the cookie batter spoon? The holidays are full of food—and questions about...
Food Safety
Lab Culture News article
11.04.24
Feeding Fido a Raw Diet? Why It Can Harm Your Pet and Your Family
By Donna Campisano, specialist, Communications, APHL The raw pet food business is booming, increasing 20% in 2021 alone. Many pet owners think raw pet food more precisely mimics the diet of their pets’ wild ancestors and perceive it to be a...
Food Safety, Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
10.30.24
APHL’s 2024 Newborn Screening Symposium Addresses Workforce Recruitment and Retainment in Keynote Session
By Donna Campisano, specialist, Communications, APHL Public health has a personnel problem. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the public health workforce has shrunk dramatically. It’s projected that there will be a shortage of 100,000 public health...
Newborn Screening and Genetics
Lab Culture News article
10.28.24
Testing the Waters: Ethiopia Pilots a Wastewater Surveillance Program
By Donna Campisano, specialist, Communications, APHL Using wastewater-based surveillance to track new and emerging viruses is gaining traction, especially since COVID-19 burst on the scene several years ago. Because people can shed viruses in their...
Global Health, Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
10.23.24
4 Babies, 4 Families, 4 Newborn Screening Tests: Parents Share Their Lived Experiences
By Donna Campisano, specialist, Communications, APHL Four mothers of babies—some of whom are now thriving children—recounted their experiences with newborn screening tests at the 2024 APHL Newborn Screening Symposium held October 20-24 in Omaha,...
Newborn Screening and Genetics
Lab Culture News article
10.14.24
11 Facts About Handwashing You Need to Know
By Donna Campisano, specialist, Communications, APHL Effective disease prevention needs an all-hands-on-deck approach.  And those hands—where an average of 3,200 different germs belonging to more than 150 different species can live—better be clean....
Food Safety, Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
10.11.24
2024 Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month: Art Contest Winners and Celebration Wrap-up
We had so much fun this Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month! From seeing photos of your celebrations, highlighting words of appreciation from our partners and sharing our own messages, September always brings joy and gratitude at APHL. Thank...
Lab Culture News article
10.07.24
From Surveillance to Syringe: The Making of a Flu Vaccine
By Donna Campisano, specialist, Communications, APHL Flu season—which typically starts in October and runs as late as May—is upon us. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about a billion people around the globe become infected with an...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
10.03.24
APHL-CDC Scholarship Recipients/HOSA Students Explain Their Passion for Laboratory Science
By Hailey Reiss, specialist, Academic Partnerships, APHL In June 2024, Dana Baker, APHL’s manager of Academic Partnerships, and I had the pleasure of attending the HOSA-Future Health Professionals (HOSA) International Leadership Conference in...
Lab Culture News article
09.26.24
Inside the Country’s Worst Listeria Outbreak in 13 Years
By Donna Campisano, specialist, Communications, APHL Last summer, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began investigating a multistate outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes, which, to date, has killed ten people and caused 59 to be...
Food Safety, Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
09.16.24
8 Things You Should Know About HPAI A(H5N1)
By Donna Campisano, specialist, Communications, APHL The novel highly pathogenic avian influenza A(HPAI H5N1) virus, also known as “H5N1 bird flu,” is an alarming and challenging public health threat. The virus is widespread in wild birds and is...
Environmental Health, Food Safety
Lab Culture News article
09.12.24
The Tale of Two Babies—One Screened for Disorders as a Newborn, One Not
By Donna Campisano, specialist, Communications, APHL Each year, roughly four million babies are born in the US, and nearly all of them are screened shortly after birth for at least 31 congenital diseases and disorders. And each year, about one in 300...
Newborn Screening and Genetics
Lab Culture News article
09.09.24
Protecting the Public’s Health, One Test at a Time
By Donna Campisano, specialist, Communications, APHL Public health laboratory professionals work tirelessly to protect the nation’s health every day (and yes, we mean holidays and weekends, too, because disease surveillance is a 24/7 job). In the...
Lab Culture News article
08.22.24
Interns present posters during their inaugural participation at APHL 2024
By Rudolph Nowak, senior specialist, Marketing and Communications The 2024 APHL Annual Conference was the first time participants from the Public Health Laboratory Science Internship Program attended the annual conference. It was also the first time...
Lab Culture News article
08.19.24
Dengue Is on the Rise. Here’s What to Know Now
By Donna Campisano, specialist, Communications, APHL Roughly half the world’s population—or about four billion people—live in areas where dengue, a viral infection typically spread through the bite of infected Aedes species mosquitoes, is a major...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
08.15.24
2024 Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month Toolkit
Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month is here! Join APHL in celebrating the vital work every chemist, microbiologist, informatician, administrator, training coordinator and more do to protect the health and safety of their communities around...
Lab Culture News article
08.15.24
4th Annual QIAGEN-sponsored Microbe Masterpieces & Chemistry Creations Art Contest
It’s that time of year — time to unleash your artistic creativity! Officially kicking off on September 1 in celebration of Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month, join us for the 4th Annual QIAGEN-sponsored Microbe Masterpieces & Chemistry...
Lab Culture News article
08.07.24
With Little More Than a Suitcase and Determination, South African Lab Scientist Leaves Home, Earns APHL Fellowship
By Donna Campisano, specialist, Communications, APHL Natasha Sanabria, a trained biochemist, was doing public health work in South Africa when her husband got a job opportunity in the US. The couple submitted the necessary paperwork to live and work...
Lab Culture News article
07.31.24
Waste Not: Building a Wastewater Surveillance System in Zambia
By Donna Campisano, specialist, Communications, APHL How effective a tool is wastewater-based surveillance (WWBS) in detecting diseases of public health importance in real time? Can it sound an alarm bell on emerging pathogens, including the specific...
Global Health
Lab Culture News article
07.09.24
Slip ‘n slide ‘n…sick? Inside one state’s E. coli investigation
By Donna Campisano, specialist, Communications, APHL In the summer of 2023, E. coli cases started popping up in Lehi, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City in Utah County. From July to September, 13 children were sickened. Seven of them were hospitalized,...
Food Safety
Lab Culture News article
06.26.24
What’s it like living with PKU? One advocate speaks out
By Donna Campisano, specialist, Communications, APHL Kevin Alexander’s life changed forever when he was just nine days old. That’s when his family received news that one of his newborn screening tests came back positive for Phenylketonuria (PKU), a...
Newborn Screening and Genetics
Lab Culture News article
06.04.24
Give Some, Get More: Becoming a Global Health Consultant with APHL
By Donna Campisano, specialist, Communications, APHL Want to help save lives around the world? APHL occasionally has the opportunity for laboratory professionals in the US to mentor, train and collaborate with other laboratory scientists around the...
Global Health
Lab Culture News article
05.23.24
Which is the Bigger Public Health Threat—Tuberculosis or Candida auris? A Public Health Showdown
By Donna Campisano, specialist, Communications, APHL Tuberculosis (TB) and Candida auris (C. auris) are two potentially deadly infectious diseases that deserve attention, action and advocacy. But when all things are considered, which is the more...
Infectious Diseases, Tuberculosis
Lab Culture News article
05.21.24
As Gonorrhea Cases Mount, Treatment Options Dwindle
By Donna Campisano, specialist, Communications, APHL Nearly 650,000 cases of gonorrhea were reported in the U.S. in 2022, making it the second-most commonly notifiable sexually transmitted disease (STD) in this country. Chlamydia takes the number-one...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
05.09.24
2024 APHL Annual Conference — Day 3
It was another great day at the 2024 APHL Annual Conference! We started the day with the annual APHL awards ceremony. Find a list of all winners here — congrats to everyone! The excitement carried throughout the day. We also have a new podcast...
Lab Culture News article
05.08.24
Lab Culture ep. 33: Public health is always going to be a passion
This episode is coming to you from the 2024 APHL Annual Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin! We had the opportunity to chat with APHL’s current President, President-elect and CEO about their experiences and observations from their roles. They are...
Lab Culture News article
05.08.24
2024 APHL Annual Conference — Day 2
The second day of the 2024 Annual Conference was a big one! APHL welcomed Dr. Peter Hotez — pediatrician, scientist and one of the TIME100 Most Influential People in Health — to deliver the Dr. Katherine Kelley Distinguished Lecture. His...
Lab Culture News article
05.07.24
2024 APHL Annual Conference — Day 1
Today APHL kicked off the 2024 Annual Conference, our largest in-person conference ever, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin! Our 1,400+ attendees jumped into sessions and networking from the start. Tomorrow brings another exciting day so follow us here or on...
Lab Culture News article
05.01.24
2024 APHL Annual Conference Press Passes Now Available
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The 2024 APHL Annual Conference kicks off in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 6 through May 9. This in-person event for the public health laboratory community brings together leaders, scientists, influencers and partners to share...
Lab Culture News article
04.29.24
APHL partners with Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to bring genomics training to regional hubs
By Donna Campisano, specialist, Communications, APHL The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) has partnered with APHL’s Global Health team to bring genomic epidemiologic training to regions around the world via the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Network...
Global Health
Lab Culture News article
04.24.24
Eyes Below the Surface: Wastewater Surveillance Pilot Program in Uganda Shows Potential for Future Pandemic Monitoring
By Andrew Nsawotebba, technical consultant, APHL On March 21, 2020, Uganda declared their first confirmed case of COVID-19. As of July 14, 2023, a total of 168,489 cases and 3,627 deaths had been reported in the country. Initially, prevalence...
Global Health
Lab Culture News article
04.16.24
Getting to the APHL 2024 Annual Conference Early? Take Advantage of These Preconference Workshops
By Donna Campisano, specialist, Communications, APHL The APHL 2024 Annual Conference officially kicks off midday Monday, May 6, but there’s plenty to take in before the meeting gears up (and we’re not talking a Brewer’s game—they’re out of town)....
Lab Culture News article
04.15.24
7 Public Health Lab Professionals Describe Why They Started in Lab Science—and What Makes Them Stay
By Donna Campisano, specialist, Communications, APHL Preparing specimens. Identifying pathogens. Detecting outbreaks. Working in a public health laboratory isn’t always pretty, but according to the lab professionals we talked with, it is incredibly...
Lab Culture News article
04.09.24
Is That Salami Safe? Charcuterie Recalls and Consumer Safety Tips
By Donna Campisano, specialist, Communications, APHL Charcuterie is having a moment. Boards and trays loaded with cheeses, cured meats, nuts, olives, spreads, chocolates and pretty much anything your heart desires are everywhere—on restaurant menus,...
Food Safety
Lab Culture News article
03.21.24
Tuberculosis: Better Detection Techniques and Treatments for a Deadly Disease
By Donna Campisano, specialist, Communications, APHL World TB Day is March 24 Before COVID-19 sprang on the scene, tuberculosis (TB) had the alarming distinction of being the world’s deadliest infectious disease. Now it ranks second, having claimed...
Infectious Diseases, Tuberculosis
Lab Culture News article
03.15.24
Measles Outbreaks Still Occur: How the APHL/CDC VPD Reference Centers Are Working to Identify Them
By Donna Campisano, specialist, Communications, APHL A vaccine to prevent measles has been available since 1963. And yet this highly contagious disease, characterized by fever, respiratory symptoms and a telltale body rash, is still with us. While...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
03.13.24
Applesauce Tainted with Lead Chromate: What We Know and Next Steps
By Donna Campisano, specialist, Communications, APHL Applesauce is a pantry staple and a favorite snack among toddlers. But lately applesauce, specifically cinnamon applesauce packaged in squeeze pouches, has been making headlines—and for alarming...
Environmental Health, Food Safety
Lab Culture News article
03.04.24
What is CIFOR and how does it prevent foodborne disease outbreaks?
In 2018, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) approximated the economic burden of foodborne illness to be $17.6 million. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that each year one in six Americans get sick – with 128,000...
Food Safety
Lab Culture News article
01.29.24
APHL Global Health team joins partners at ASLM2023 Conference
The 2023 African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) Conference (ASLM2023) was held from December 12-15 in Cape Town, South Africa. Leaders and researchers in laboratory practice from across the world gathered to address this year’s theme,...
Global Health
Lab Culture News article
12.20.23
APHL’s Top 10 Stories of 2023
This year was full of growth and progress for APHL thanks to our members, partners and staff. As we look back on 2023, there are countless stories that represent the hard work and dedication of the entire public health laboratory community. These ten...
Lab Culture News article
11.30.23
Newborn screening ‘ecosystem’ continues to improve
By Melanie Padgett Powers, writer Newborn screening is known primarily as the heel stick a newborn gets to test their blood for certain genetic diseases. But that simple description understates the profound effect newborn screening has had on...
Newborn Screening and Genetics
Lab Culture News article
11.08.23
Advocates work to expand newborn screening worldwide
By Melanie Padgett Powers, writer Over the past 60 years, newborn screening has led to early diagnoses and treatments for millions of babies with genetic health conditions, saving and improving lives. However, the existence of newborn screening...
Newborn Screening and Genetics
Lab Culture News article
10.30.23
Building global capacity to handle disease threats
In June 2023, 15 professionals from Cambodia, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Yemen gathered at Tanzania’s National Public Health Laboratory in Dar es Salaam with one common goal: to gain an understanding in certifying biological safety cabinets....
Global Health
Lab Culture News article
10.25.23
First Ukrainian cohort of the Global Laboratory Leadership Programme is underway
In June 2023, the first Ukrainian cohort began the Global Laboratory Leadership Programme (GLLP), a comprehensive competency-based systems-focused laboratory leadership program. Twelve participants and seven national mentors representing human...
Global Health
Lab Culture News article
10.18.23
Families share their stories with newborn screening
By Melanie Padgett Powers, writer Elizabeth Whyte and her husband were living in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, when their first child, Henry, was born. A colleague told Whyte she would be asked if she wanted the heel prick “extra test” and that she...
Newborn Screening and Genetics
Lab Culture News article
10.13.23
2023 Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month: Celebration Wrap-up and Art Contest Winners
While Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month officially ended with September, our appreciation continues year-round. Thank you to everyone who shared their messages of thanks and recognition including local and state agencies, public health...
Lab Culture News article
09.28.23
Lab Culture ep. 32: Dr. Bell and Dr. Yarosz love their CDC LLS fellowship experience. What is the LLS fellowship?
What is the CDC Laboratory Leadership Service (LLS)? In this episode, we learn more about it from two current LLS fellows. Drs. Courtnee Bell and Emily Yarosz discuss how they learned about the fellowship, their experiences and where they see...
Lab Culture News article
09.06.23
5 Questions for Jill Roberts, Leah Gillis, Andy Cannons – USF COPH DrPH Concentration Faculty and APHL members
The DrPH Public Health and Clinical Laboratory Science and Practice program at the University of South Florida is uniquely designed to meet the needs of working laboratory professionals and strengthen the pipeline of public health laboratory leaders....
Lab Culture News article
09.01.23
Enter the 3rd Annual QIAGEN-sponsored Microbe Masterpieces and Chemistry Creations Art Contest
Unleash your creativity this September! In celebration of APHL’s Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month, please join the 3rd Annual QIAGEN-sponsored Microbe Masterpieces & Chemistry Creations art contest to showcase your artistic skills and win...
Lab Culture News article
08.24.23
2023 Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month Toolkit
Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month is here! Join APHL in celebrating public health lab staff supporting newborn screening, environmental testing, foodborne illness outbreak detection, infectious disease testing, biological threat monitoring...
Lab Culture News article
08.17.23
5 things to know about responding to a chemical emergency like the East Palestine, Ohio train derailment
By Mahsa Ahmadi, associate specialist, Environmental Health, APHL On the evening of February 3, 2023, a train operated by Norfolk Southern carrying hazardous materials derailed in East Palestine, Ohio posing serious concerns about the potential...
Environmental Health
Lab Culture News article
07.24.23
Public health laboratories collecting critical data on non-fatal drug overdoses
By Melanie Padgett Powers, writer Some public health laboratories are collecting data on non-fatal drug overdoses so the information can be used in substance use prevention and treatment efforts. During the May 23 session “Innovative Laboratory...
Environmental Health
Lab Culture News article
06.16.23
APHL Recognized as a Washington Post 2023 Top Workplace
We are proud to announce that APHL has again been named one of The Washington Post’s Top Workplaces in the Washington, DC area! Selection for this award is based on employee feedback gathered through an anonymous third-party survey, which measured...
Lab Culture News article
06.07.23
Through humor and music, ZDoggMD calls for a better health care system
By Melanie Padgett Powers, writer In classic literature and mainstream movies, the lead character is often on a “hero’s journey,” which involves adventure, crossing the threshold into the unknown, trials and failures, and temptations. Sometimes there...
Lab Culture News article
05.25.23
2023 APHL Annual Conference – Day 3
The third day of the 2023 APHL Annual Conference did not disappoint! We started with early-morning roundtable sessions, followed by the annual awards ceremony, more fascinating speakers, and even a visit from the COVID detection dogs. Check out the...
Lab Culture News article
05.24.23
Ebola detection and testing rapidly expands in Uganda and US
Ebola detection and testing rapidly expands in Uganda and US By Melanie Padgett Powers, writer A partnership between Uganda and US public health professionals was instrumental in responding to the 2022 Ebola outbreak in Africa. Furthermore, lessons...
Lab Culture News article
05.24.23
APHL Honors 2023 Annual Award Winners
For Immediate Release Sacramento, CA, May 24, 2023 – The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) is pleased to announce the winners of its annual awards for outstanding achievements in laboratory science, creative approaches to solving...
Lab Culture News article
05.24.23
2023 APHL Annual Conference – Day 2
From the Sunrise Walk and Innovate! Sessions to the Networking Reception, day two of APHL 2023 was chock-full of presentations, networking, activities and fun! Check out the action from our second day of APHL 2023, featuring attendee reactions,...
Lab Culture News article
05.23.23
2023 APHL Annual Conference – Day 1
Welcome to the more than 1,200 people who joined the 2023 APHL Annual Conference in-person in Sacramento and to the over 300 who joined virtually! Today was an exciting first day. Check out some of the photos, videos and social media highlights from...
Lab Culture News article
05.11.23
Successful COVID-19 exposure notification system shuts down in most states
By Melanie Padgett Powers As the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency expired on May 11, 2023, the COVID-19 Exposure Notifications System (ENS) in the majority of states also shut down. For the past three years, APHL has played a critical role in the US...
Infectious Diseases, Informatics
Lab Culture News article
05.09.23
Wastewater surveillance gained prominence during the pandemic. Where is it now?
By: Erin Morin, specialist, Environmental Health, APHL While wastewater testing is typically used in environmental health applications, wastewater testing for infectious diseases was a prominent discussion topic at the inaugural APHL ID Lab Con. This...
Environmental Health, Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
04.25.23
Metagenomics: Tackling the new, the unknown and the roadblocks
By Shannon Mahoney, senior specialist, Advanced Molecular Detection, APHL With the recent COVID-19 pandemic and mpox outbreak, public health laboratories have found themselves in the critical position of having to rapidly adapt to emergent situations...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
04.03.23
Visit to New York’s Wadsworth Center reignites APHL staffer’s passion for lab science
By Rana Rahmat, specialist, Laboratory Response Network, APHL After the public health emergencies of the last several years, it would be quite easy for anyone in this field, particularly laboratory scientists, to find themselves jaded about the...
Lab Culture News article
03.17.23
Dr. Demetre Daskalakis brings “infectious energy” to first ever APHL ID Lab Con
By Sarah Buss, manager of HIV, viral hepatitis, STD and TB, APHL The first ever and long-awaited APHL ID Lab Con opened with an inspirational message from keynote speaker, Demetre Daskalakis, MD, MPH, director of the Division of HIV Prevention at the...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
12.22.22
APHL x The Story Collider: Call for Story Pitches
Did you hear that ID Lab Con, APHL’s newest conference, is in-person in Atlanta, GA for the first time in March 2023?? As part of the conference, on March 14, 2023, The Story Collider and APHL will host a very special edition of their live show....
Lab Culture News article
12.20.22
APHL’s Top 10 Stories of 2022
Year after year we at APHL continue to be impressed with public health laboratory staff around the world. As 2022 comes to a close, we reflect on a year that brought many challenges and many successes. These ten stories highlight just a small segment...
Lab Culture News article
11.29.22
The promise of whole genome sequencing faces privacy concerns
By Melanie Padgett Powers, writer As technology continues to advance rapidly, the newborn screening community is having a robust conversation to address privacy concerns while still being able to advance the diagnosis of rare diseases that saves...
Newborn Screening and Genetics
Lab Culture News article
11.14.22
Sickle cell disease patients lack access to appropriate care after newborn screening and diagnosis
By Melanie Padgett Powers, writer Sickle cell disease (SCD) was first identified in 1910. In 1972, Congress recognized SCD as a significant public health concern, passing the National Sickle Cell Anemia Control Act to establish education, screening,...
Newborn Screening and Genetics
Lab Culture News article
10.31.22
Lab Culture ep. 31: Past, Present and Future of Biosafety
Today’s show is a conversation between four past winners of APHL’s Leadership in Biosafety and Biosecurity Award. Jill Power, Christina Egan, Carrie Anglewicz and Andrew Cannons (from left to right in the photo above) share their thoughts on the...
Lab Culture News article
10.18.22
Importance of newborn screening for early detection and treatment emphasized by patients and families
By Melanie Padgett Powers, writer At six weeks old in the early 1970s, Kendra Hogenson was adopted. But her new parents quickly realized that instead of cooing and wiggling around, all their baby did was cry and beat her head against the wall. They...
Newborn Screening and Genetics
Lab Culture News article
09.30.22
The Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month art contest winners are…
While Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month officially comes to a close, our appreciation continues year-round. Thank you to everyone who shared their messages of thanks and recognition including local and state agencies, public health partners...
Lab Culture News article
09.21.22
Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) funding program marks 20 years
By Jill Sutton, specialist, Emergency Preparedness and Response, APHL This year marks the 20th anniversary of the CDC Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) Cooperative Agreement, a program that was developed in 2002 to strengthen preparedness...
Lab Culture News article
09.06.22
Join the 2nd Annual QIAGEN-sponsored Microbe Masterpieces and Chemistry Creations Art Contest
Trillions of microbes are hiding in plain sight,Another world beyond what we see.Some crucial to our health, others cause blight.Did you ever think of how beautiful microbes can be? In celebration of APHL’s Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month...
Lab Culture News article
09.01.22
Lab Culture ep. 30: APHL CEO Scott Becker wants to bring public health laboratory work into the foreground
It’s September which means it is Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month! We are kicking off a month of celebrating by chatting with Scott Becker, APHL CEO, about the exciting work being done by public health laboratory staff as well as the...
Lab Culture News article
08.17.22
2022 Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month Toolkit
Celebrate Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month this September with APHL! Each year we get excited for a full month of celebrating public health laboratory staff supporting newborn screening, environmental testing, foodborne illness outbreak...
Lab Culture News article
07.07.22
Lab Culture ep. 29: What’s next for the Laboratory Response Network (LRN) response to mpox?
As the 2022 mpox (monkeypox) outbreak began to spread around the globe, the Laboratory Response Network (LRN) was prepared with the appropriate test and experienced staff trained to perform it. These frontline responders were the first to test...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
06.09.22
How two unusual food outbreaks were discovered and tracked
By Melanie Padgett Powers, writer In presentations during the 2022 APHL Annual Conference May 18 session, “A Real Whodunit—Finding Danger in Unusual Places,” two state health departments shared how they discovered and attempted to stop two unusual...
Food Safety
Lab Culture News article
06.01.22
Public health laboratories can play vital role in halting STI increases
By Melanie Padgett Powers, writer As the rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to rise dramatically in the US, the challenge offers opportunities for public health laboratories, said the keynote speaker during the 2022 APHL Annual...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
05.19.22
2022 APHL Annual Conference: Day 3
Day three of the 2022 APHL Annual Conference was a great one! We started off with the annual awards ceremony which always sets the tone for an exciting day. Check out some highlights including a podcast interview, photos, social media posts, video...
Lab Culture News article
05.19.22
Public unaware of risks from new delta-8 THC cannabis products
By Melanie Padgett Powers, writer Synthetically created cannabis products containing delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) have been gaining in popularity, and public health professionals are concerned consumers don’t know about their risks. A chemist...
Environmental Health
Lab Culture News article
05.18.22
2022 APHL Annual Conference: Day 2
Today was the first full day of the 2022 APHL Annual Conference and it did not disappoint! From COVID-19 to newborn screening to food safety and more, there was a fascinating presentation to intrigue anyone. We kicked off the day with a sunrise walk...
Lab Culture News article
05.18.22
APHL 2022 opening plenary shares lessons learned from COVID-19 pandemic
By Melanie Padgett Powers, writer The demands that public health laboratory workers faced during the pandemic fell into two main areas: capacity and regulatory issues, said moderator Vaneet Arora, MD, MPH, medical laboratory director, Kentucky State...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
05.17.22
2022 APHL Annual Conference: Day 1
The 2022 APHL Annual Conference kicked off as our first ever hybrid conference! On Lab Culture, listen to a few attendees talk about what it means to them to be back in person at our largest conference ever and what they’re looking forward to this...
Lab Culture News article
04.07.22
Lab Week 2022: Celebrate with APHL
Get ready for Lab Week! APHL will be joining our members and partners in celebrating the hard work and dedication of public health laboratory staff keeping us safe and healthy every day. We wanted to let you know about a bit of a change starting this...
Lab Culture News article
03.23.22
Lab Culture Ep. 28: Scientists in Oregon and Michigan Honor World TB Day
Every year we commemorate World TB Day on March 24, the anniversary of the day Dr. Robert Koch first announced that he discovered Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacillus that causes TB. This World TB Day, we are sharing an insightful conversation...
Infectious Diseases, Tuberculosis
Lab Culture News article
03.07.22
5 Questions for CDC’s Dr. Ren Salerno
In January 2021, Dr. Reynolds “Ren” Salerno, director of the Division of Laboratory Systems (DLS) at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), joined us for a Q&A. One year later – and two years into the COVID-19 pandemic – we had more...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
02.09.22
What is the APHL-CDC Fellowship Program and why should you consider applying?
The APHL-CDC Fellowship Program is an opportunity for post-bachelor’s, -master’s and -doctoral scientists to engage in focused public health laboratory training and to join a network of dedicated public health laboratory professionals. A plethora of...
Lab Culture News article
12.16.21
APHL’s Top 10 Stories of 2021
As we come to the end of 2021, we wanted to look back at a year of stories that reflect the work of our members, partners and staff. It was another year largely focused on the COVID-19 pandemic response, which brought frustration and exhaustion that...
Lab Culture News article
11.21.21
For Public Health Thank You Day, APHL staff share their notes of thanks
On the Monday before Thanksgiving, APHL joins Research!America and other leading public health organizations in taking time to recognize the public health workforce who labor tirelessly every day to protect us from disease, injury and other health...
Lab Culture News article
11.10.21
One mom says the day of newborn screening “was the worst day of my life, but the best day for my son.”
By Melanie Padgett Powers, writer (Photo from left: the Kettler family, the Lamb family and the Pytel family.) Christina and Daniel Kettler had barely been home a day in June 2019 with their five-day-old son, Fitz, when their pediatrician called with...
Newborn Screening and Genetics
Lab Culture News article
11.05.21
Lab Culture Ep. 27: Discussing food safety with colleagues, but please not over lunch
Like most things in public health science, food safety is complicated. The nuance can be difficult for non-scientists to understand and difficult for scientists to communicate. On this episode of Lab Culture, Shari Shea, APHL’s director of food...
Food Safety
Lab Culture News article
10.18.21
Social Media Ad Campaigns Successfully Recruit Newborn Screening Research Participants
By Melanie Padgett Powers, writer Representatives from disease-specific advocacy and research organizations shared ways they educate the public about newborn screening during the APHL 2021 Newborn Screening Symposium. During the “Public Engagement”...
Newborn Screening and Genetics
Lab Culture News article
10.11.21
Newborn Screening Lessons Learned When Internet and Cell Service Went Down
By Melanie Padgett Powers, writer On Christmas Day 2020, Nashville, TN, residents woke to a strange and scary situation. A recorded announcement from an RV parked in the city’s historic district was warning people of an impending explosion. Around...
Newborn Screening and Genetics
Lab Culture News article
10.05.21
Lab Culture Ep. 26: How two New Jersey lab scientists launched an unprecedented prenatal lead and mercury screening program
Eric Bind and Andrew Steffens, scientists at the New Jersey Public Health and Environmental Laboratories, knew their lab was capable of screening expectant mothers and newborn babies for lead and mercury. But creating a program that also included...
Environmental Health
Lab Culture News article
10.04.21
The Exposure Notifications System’s one-year anniversary: Lessons learned and what’s ahead
On August 12, 2020, the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) launched the national key server on Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform to support the Apple | Google Exposure Notifications System in the United States. Since then, APHL has added...
Informatics
Lab Culture News article
09.30.21
Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month: Celebration Wrap-up and Microbe Masterpiece Winners
While Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month officially comes to a close, our appreciation continues year-round. Thank you to everyone who shared their messages of thanks and recognition including local and state agencies, public health partners...
Lab Culture News article
09.08.21
Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month Art Contest: Unleash Your Creativity
Trillions of microbes are hiding in plain sight,Another world beyond what we see.Some crucial to our health, others cause blight.Did you ever think of how beautiful microbes can be? In celebration of APHL’s Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month...
Lab Culture News article
09.01.21
The Convergence of the Opioid Crisis and COVID-19: A Silent Epidemic, Overshadowed
by Nicholas Ancona, MPH, specialist, Opioids Biosurveillance, APHL Over 93,000 Americans died from a drug overdose in 2020—a 30% increase from 2019. Despite an overall decline in emergency department visits that year, non-fatal drug and...
Environmental Health
Lab Culture News article
08.12.21
Celebrate Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month 2021 with APHL
September is Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month! At APHL we’re excited to celebrate all staff in public health laboratories—everyone from microbiologists to maintenance teams, from informaticians to information technology specialists and...
Lab Culture News article
08.04.21
Wastewater tracking provides warning signs of local COVID-19 burden
By Melanie Padgett Powers, writer Tracking wastewater for the SARS-CoV-2 virus can alert communities to the ups and downs of COVID-19 cases and potentially warn them about emerging virus mutations. During the May 10 APHL 2021 Annual...
Environmental Health
Lab Culture News article
07.21.21
Pandemic regulatory challenges created public health laboratory collaborations
By Melanie Padgett Powers, writer After the COVID-19 pandemic reached US shores in spring 2020, regulatory requirements, guidance and available assays continued to evolve. This forced public health laboratories across the country to constantly...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
07.15.21
Journalists and public health workers are a vital team to educate communities
By Melanie Padgett Powers, writer Journalists who are given broader access to public health workers as interview sources can build trusting, long-term relationships. That, in turn, often leads to more compelling, comprehensive public health stories...
Lab Culture News article
07.13.21
Lab Culture Ep. 25: A Conversation with Dr. Rick Bright
In October 2020, Dr. Rick Bright resigned in protest as director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) because of the Trump administration’s political interference in...
Lab Culture News article
06.18.21
The Washington Post Names APHL a 2021 Top Washington-Area Workplace
We are excited to announce that the Association of Public Health Laboratories has been named one of The Washington Post’s 2021 Top Workplaces in the Washington, DC area. The selection is determined solely through employee feedback to an anonymous...
Lab Culture News article
05.24.21
Lessons learned from setting up point-of-care COVID-19 test sites
By Melanie Padgett Powers, writer To increase COVID-19 testing capacity during the pandemic, health departments across the country set up temporary point-of-care testing sites. During a May 19 APHL 2021 Annual Conference session, “Pop-up Problems:...
Lab Culture News article
05.20.21
APHL celebrates 2021 award winners
The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) is pleased to announce the winners of its annual awards for outstanding achievements in laboratory science, creative approaches to solving today’s public health challenges and exemplary support of...
Lab Culture News article
05.06.21
Flu practically disappeared during COVID-19 pandemic
By Melanie Padgett Powers, writer The 2020-2021 flu numbers were so low, they barely registered in most areas. In fact, the influenza “peak” in the US—in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic—was a mere 0.4%, compared to a 30.3% peak in 2019. In a May...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
04.19.21
Detecting, Sequencing and Monitoring SARS-CoV-2 Virus Variants
By Melissa Schraeder, writer Sequencing viruses has many purposes, two of which are for surveillance of circulating strains and for analyzing clusters. During the first several months of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists were not focused on...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
04.12.21
Lab Week 2021 — Celebrate with APHL
Get ready for Lab Week! APHL will be joining our members and partners in celebrating the hard work and dedication of public health laboratory staff keeping us safe and healthy every day. From April 18-23, we will take extra time to show our...
Lab Culture News article
01.27.21
Q&A with Dr. Ren Salerno, Director of the Division of Laboratory Systems at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Reynolds “Ren” Salerno, PhD, is Director of the Division of Laboratory Systems at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A lot has happened since our last published conversation in Lab Matters in pre-pandemic 2019. We checked back in to hear...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
01.06.21
Making Sense of the COVID-19 Data Story
by Rachel Shepherd, specialist, Informatics When COVID-19 cases began hitting the United States at a rapid rate in early 2020, public health was faced with an immediate and urgent need to expand testing capabilities while simultaneously trying to...
Informatics
Lab Culture News article
11.17.20
Iowa Parents’ Perspectives: Newborn screening truly saved their babies’ lives
by Sapna Kundra, MPH, writer The final and unquestionably the most impactful session of the APHL 2020 Newborn Screening Virtual Symposium featured four families sharing their respective newborn screening experiences. The laboratory, follow-up,...
Newborn Screening and Genetics
Lab Culture News article
11.09.20
Opportunities to enhance newborn screening follow-up exist and improve outcomes
by Sapna Kundra, MPH, writer In laboratory newborn screening programs, the primary focus is on the test itself. What happens after the test is up to the follow-up program, an essential component of the newborn screening process that ensures...
Newborn Screening and Genetics
Lab Culture News article
10.30.20
Strengthening the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel
by Sapna Kundra, MPH, writer The Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP) is a growing list of disorders that the Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommends for states to incorporate into their respective newborn...
Newborn Screening and Genetics
Lab Culture News article
10.26.20
The Evolving Landscape of Newborn Screening
While routine newborn screening has been a successful part of our nation’s public health system for over 55 years, newborn screening now has the promise to grow exponentially as scientists and clinicians gain better testing technologies and...
Newborn Screening and Genetics
Lab Culture News article
10.16.20
What do virtual reality training opportunities bring to laboratory professionals?
By Melanie Padgett Powers, writer Virtual reality offers an interactive, safe, useful and fun way for public health laboratory professionals to learn and evaluate new skills, according to presenters at the October 13 APHL 2020 Virtual...
Lab Culture News article
10.12.20
Bridging the gap between clinical and public health
by Melanie Padgett Powers, writer A public health team in Oregon used a federal preparedness grant to zero in on the individualized needs of hospitals across the state. In the APHL 2020 Virtual Conference session, “Bridging the Gap Between Clinical...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
10.05.20
How Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands rebuilt public health after catastrophic hurricanes
By Melanie Padgett Powers, writer In 2017, Hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands in the Caribbean, forcing public health professionals to rebuild their infrastructure and programs. In a September 29 APHL 2020...
Lab Culture News article
09.28.20
Whole Genome Sequencing Used to Trace COVID-19 Outbreaks
By Melanie Padgett Powers, writer Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of SARS-CoV-2 by public health laboratories, in collaboration with epidemiologists, can provide vital information about the spread of COVID-19. Sean Wang, DVM, PhD, sequencing and...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
09.22.20
COVID-19 and biosafety: Perspectives and lessons learned from a public health laboratory
By Gregory Hovan, Microbiology Manager I, Delaware Public Health Laboratory The United States has more COVID-19 confirmed cases and deaths than any other nation, as shown on the COVID-19 Dashboard by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering...
Lab Culture News article
09.14.20
Lab Culture Ep. 23: The Story Collider Presents: Pandemic Perspectives from the Public Health Laboratory
On August 27, 2020, APHL joined The Story Collider for a very special edition of their show featuring four true, personal stories about from APHL members about how COVID-19 has impacted their lives. This episode is a recording of that show. The Story...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
09.08.20
COVID-19 exposure notifications expand among public health community
The emergence of COVID-19 required swift action to develop systems and processes that support public health agencies and their pandemic response efforts. This year APHL has worked to create new connections, develop new message formats, standardize...
Informatics
Lab Culture News article
09.01.20
September is Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month
Hi! I’m Flat Labby! I had hoped to meet you earlier this year, but the past few months have been hectic for everyone. I know it’s been challenging for all of you personally and professionally. So I would like to officially introduce Public Health...
Lab Culture News article
08.26.20
Connecting the COVID-19 dots with technology
The emergence of COVID-19 required swift action to develop systems and processes that support public health agencies and their pandemic response efforts. In the last seven months, APHL has worked to create new connections, develop new message...
Infectious Diseases, Informatics
Lab Culture News article
08.19.20
How has COVID-19 created challenges for pediatric lead testing?
by Ariana La Grenade-Finch, intern, Environmental Health, APHL COVID-19 has remained top news for several months and has altered lives in many ways. One of the ways things have changed is in how and the frequency in which laboratories conduct...
Environmental Health
Lab Culture News article
08.12.20
Five food safety tips to keep your family healthy
By Kirsten Larson, manager, Food Safety, APHL, and Robyn Randolph, senior specialist, Food Laboratory Accreditation, APHL In this time of COVID-19, the ways in which we get and consume our food likely look much different from a year ago. Whether it...
Food Safety
Lab Culture News article
07.30.20
The importance of sustained federal funding for public health
By Stephanie Barahona, associate specialist, Public Health Preparedness and Response, APHL and Sam Abrams, specialist, Public Health Preparedness and Response, APHL As hospitals across the country work to manage a constant influx of COVID-19...
Lab Culture News article
07.29.20
Lab Culture Ep. 22: Life as a public health lab scientist testing for COVID-19
Jessica Bauer and Matt Sinn are scientists at the Missouri State Public Health Laboratory. On this episode, they shared their experiences performing COVID-19 testing, working long hours seven days a week, supporting their staff while trying not to...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
07.17.20
Bringing COVID-19 exposure notification to the public health community
Starting in 2006 with the Public Health Laboratory Interoperability Project (PHLIP)—one of the first systems that allowed public health entities to exchange standardized data—APHL has worked to make connections between public health laboratories and...
Informatics
Lab Culture News article
07.01.20
The Story Collider Presents: APHL – call for story pitches
Sadly, in its inaugural year, APHL’s ID Lab Con had to be canceled. Well, most of it… APHL planned an exciting after hours event with The Story Collider and we’re joining them in bringing this event to you online! On August 27 (time TBD), The Story...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
06.26.20
APHL Celebrates the 2020 Award Winners
The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) is pleased to announce the winners of its annual awards for outstanding achievements in laboratory science, creative approaches to solving today’s public health challenges and exemplary support of...
Lab Culture News article
06.09.20
Racial justice and public health
Dear Colleagues, Like many of you, we have been profoundly moved by the events of the past week. People in communities across our country are standing up and speaking out over a legacy of racial injustice in the US. The recent tragic loss of George...
Lab Culture News article
06.03.20
Beyond COVID-19: How public health laboratories keep us safe every day
by Jody DeVoll, advisor, Communications, APHL Public health laboratories have figured so prominently in media coverage of coronavirus (COVID-19) testing that one might assume that this was their sole function. In fact, they protect our health and...
Lab Culture News article
05.12.20
The importance of test verification in public health laboratories
by Gynene Sullivan, manager, Communications, APHL With the changes to regulations regarding the development and dissemination of laboratory tests, there have been a myriad of companies who have begun marketing COVID-19 tests to public and private...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
05.01.20
Maximizing next-generation sequencing in newborn screening through bioinformatics
by Samantha Marcellus, MPH, APHL-CDC Newborn Screening Bioinformatics Fellow We live in the era of rapid access to near limitless information, over-the-counter DNA testing, and emerging gene therapies. As genetic testing, technology, and treatments...
Newborn Screening and Genetics
Lab Culture News article
04.23.20
Moving data at the speed of a virus
by Rachel Shepherd, specialist, Informatics, APHL The public health system serves as the backbone to our nation’s health and safety; there is nothing more collectively critical than making sure we are prepared to respond to threats. When a public...
Informatics
Lab Culture News article
04.16.20
Variability in states’ testing numbers: It’s not that simple
By Gynene Sullivan, manager, communications, APHL Throughout the COVID-19 response, there has been a lot of discussion about the fact that laboratory testing numbers across the United States have been varied, and this is nowhere more evident than our...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
04.13.20
APHL EVALI response spurred by strong communication
Whether it be a disease outbreak, a natural disaster or a devastating lung condition, regular, responsive communication drives response to public health emergencies. In the summer of 2019, with cases of E-cigarette, or Vaping, Product Use-Associated...
Environmental Health
Lab Culture News article
04.13.20
APHL, partners garner $550M for data modernization initiative
Like many aspects of public health, the effective, efficient movement of public health data has been chronically underfunded. APHL and our partners are working to secure federal funding for improved handling of public health data.
Informatics
Lab Culture News article
04.06.20
Dear public health lab staff: Thank you!
By Scott J. Becker, CEO, APHL This week is National Public Health Week, a time to celebrate all the ways public health professionals keep our communities safe and healthy. This year, with a novel disease circling the globe threatening our health and...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
12.16.19
Lab Culture Ep. 21: 2019 Year in Review
Are we already at the end of 2019?! While to many of us it felt like the year flew by, APHL staff, members and partners accomplished a LOT in an effort to protect the public’s health. In this episode, Scott Becker, APHL’s executive director, reviews...
Lab Culture News article
11.18.19
APHL’s newborn screening program goes global
Outside of the US and other resource-rich nations, few countries have the capital, infrastructure and human resources required to sustain a newborn screening program. Despite these barriers, APHL staff and members have worked diligently to increase...
Newborn Screening and Genetics
Lab Culture News article
11.13.19
In Puerto Rico, a new molecular bacteriology lab allows better control of foodborne outbreaks
Sometimes a new facility is more than just four walls and a roof. In Puerto Rico, it was the springboard to improving foodborne outbreak response on the whole island. In May 2019, Puerto Rico inaugurated a new molecular bacteriology laboratory at the...
Food Safety
Lab Culture News article
10.29.19
Humboldt County Public Health Lab was ready for ricin thanks to LRN
By Jody DeVoll, advisor, communications, APHL Jeremy Corrigan, Humboldt County Public Health Laboratory manager, was having a quiet Tuesday morning when he received a call from a member of the local hazmat team. Workers processing mail at a nearby...
Lab Culture News article
10.17.19
Lab Culture Ep. 20: 20 Years of the Laboratory Response Network
This year marks 20 years since the inception of the Laboratory Response Network (LRN). Founded by APHL, CDC and the FBI, the LRN exists to protect the public from biological and chemical threats. How did the LRN get its start? And how has it evolved...
Environmental Health
Lab Culture News article
09.25.19
Supporting rapid exchange of public health data is urgent, crucial and laden with challenges
By Jody DeVoll, advisor, communications, APHL  In an era when digital communications move at blazing speeds, public health laboratories still have to resort to fax, email or phone to exchange data with some partners. Yet, this is only one of the...
Informatics
Lab Culture News article
08.21.19
Lab Culture Extra: Progress in Sierra Leone
APHL has a long history of involvement in Sierra Leone where we’ve provided technical assistance to strengthen the nation’s laboratory system for over a decade. Following the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak, we were invited back to build laboratory response...
Global Health
Lab Culture News article
08.19.19
APHL workshop advances integration of HIV, HCV and syphilis testing
Integrating HIV, hepatitis C virus (HCV) and syphilis testing is a laboratory best practice that improves detection of common co-infections and expedites treatment, but integrating these tests is not always easy. Each health department is unique, so...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
08.15.19
Self-directed regional networks: Connecting neighbors strengthens labs
(Photo: The Pacific Rim Consortium met in person for the first time at the Hawaii Public Health Laboratory in March, 2019.) How can a public health laboratory with limited resources sustain and expand its capabilities? One strategy is to leverage the...
Lab Culture News article
06.13.19
Lab Culture Ep. 19: Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha- Storytelling and the Flint Water Crisis
Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, author of What the Eyes Don’t See: A Story of Crisis, Resistance, and Hope in an American City, joins us for an interview about the importance of storytelling in public health. Did Dr. Mona’s successful use of narratives allow...
Environmental Health
Lab Culture News article
06.06.19
2019 APHL Annual Meeting: Day 3
Today was day three of the annual meeting! We started the day with awards ceremony and concluded with the member assembly, listening to many great speakers in between. For many, the highlight was the Dr. Katherine Kelley Distinguished Lecture...
Lab Culture News article
06.05.19
2019 APHL Annual Meeting: Day 2
It was another great day at the annual meeting in St. Louis! As the attendees interviewed on this episode will share, some of the highlights included Poster Speed Dating, learning about new technology from exhibitors and, of course, networking....
Lab Culture News article
06.04.19
2019 APHL Annual Meeting: Day 1
We’re in St. Louis for the 2019 APHL Annual Meeting! This episode is a round-up of all the excitement of the first day. It was fascinating and exhausting, just as the annual meeting should be. Follow #APHL on Twitter and Instagram for more updates!...
Lab Culture News article
05.15.19
Nigerian malaria researcher joined the Milwaukee laboratory for a cultural exchange beyond the bench
Nearly two years ago, a malaria researcher named Dr. Abel Olusola “Sola” Idowu left Lagos, Nigeria and emerged into the frosty, winter air of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Milwaukee, a quintessential Midwestern American city, may not be associated in many...
Global Health, Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
05.06.19
Public health laboratory response capability advanced through – and in spite of – the Zika outbreak
When a health threat like the Zika virus disappears from the headlines, public health systems may appear to have halted their work. In fact, their efforts continue behind the scenes as lessons and enhancements from the last response are incorporated...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
04.24.19
Lab Culture Ep. 18: Alaska state virology lab — Freezing temps, wild animals, and extremely dedicated staff
Every area of our country is unique in ways that make public health laboratory work vary from one state or locality to another. But just as Alaska is different from the lower-48 states in most ways, their public health lab’s work is too. Have you...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
04.09.19
APHL: Engaging for change in emergency diagnostics
The process for developing and deploying emergency diagnostics to laboratories nationwide will now be more efficient. A new entity, the Tri-Agency Task Force for Emergency Diagnostics, has brought together representatives from the Centers for Disease...
Lab Culture News article
04.09.19
Enhancing detection of newborn screening conditions via data analytics
For over 50 years, newborn screening programs across the United States have implemented laboratory screening and follow-up programs to detect and report infants at high risk for rare diseases. As we look towards the future, current testing challenges...
Newborn Screening and Genetics
Lab Culture News article
04.03.19
Lab Culture Extra: How the Wisconsin state lab developed a test for brodifacoum and why it matters
In the spring of 2018 patients suffering from profuse bleeding swamped emergency rooms in Illinois and Wisconsin. The cause? Synthetic cannabinoids laced with rat poison When an outbreak of contaminated synthetic cannabinoids reached Wisconsin in...
Environmental Health
Lab Culture News article
04.01.19
Are antibiotics making printers great again?
By Eric Ransom, APHL-CDC Antimicrobial Resistance Fellow Let’s be honest: printers have never been that great. These frustrating devices turn what should be a simple office task into a game of chance. Is there paper? Did it jam? Can I get by without...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
03.27.19
The LRN’s job is to prepare, detect and respond. But what exactly does that mean?
As one of the nation’s emergency response systems, the Laboratory Response Network (LRN) is known for detecting and responding to all types of health threats. Its mission is to maintain an integrated network of laboratories that can respond to...
Lab Culture News article
03.06.19
SUIT UP for Lab Week — 2019 Lab Week ToolKit
How do you suit up? With a crisp white lab coat and purple gloves? Or maybe in a fierce yellow hazmat suit? How about knee-high rubber boots and waders? However you SUIT UP, we want to see it! Take photos or video of you suiting up for Lab Week, and...
Lab Culture News article
02.19.19
Lab Culture Extra: Surge of West Nile Virus in North Dakota
What happens inside a public health lab when a health threat sends it into overdrive? Find out how the North Dakota lab met a surge in West Nile Virus in 2018 in this APHL in Action Lab Culture Extra. Dr. Christie MassenDirector of the Division of...
Lab Culture News article
02.12.19
New lab informatics courses introduce basics to non-specialists  
Two online laboratory informatics courses now on the CDC TRAIN site help laboratory staff to understand how their jobs relate to their laboratory’s informatics system. Developed by APHL and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in...
Informatics
Lab Culture News article
02.08.19
Lab Culture Ep. 17: Exploring bioinformatics: From fellow to full time in Virginia
Kevin Libuit went from the APHL-CDC Bioinformatics Fellowship to a contractor to working full-time as a bioinformatician at the Virginia state lab (VA Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS)). First he talks about when he discovered...
Informatics
Lab Culture News article
01.16.19
Pandemic preparedness has been a boon for US flu surveillance, but it won’t maintain itself
by Kim Krisberg At the peak of the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic, the Wisconsin state public health lab was routinely testing up to 300 specimens every day. On one day, the lab hit a record of nearly 500. To generate results within 24 hours of receiving a...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
12.03.18
Lab Culture: Introducing PKU Life Podcast with Kevin Alexander
Fifty-five years ago, newborn screening was born. At the time, though, that little heel prick was performed to screen for only one condition: phenylketonuria (PKU). Without early intervention, babies born with PKU faced severe cognitive, behavioral...
Newborn Screening and Genetics
Lab Culture News article
11.19.18
5 most unexpected and unique partnerships forged through the Zika response
By Kelly Wroblewski, director, infectious disease, APHL While the US public health system has been through a number of infectious disease responses in the last decade, the Zika response was unique in both its duration and complexity. For more than 20...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
11.02.18
Influenza prevention and response requires a One Health approach
By Jill Sutton, respiratory diseases intern, APHL Did you know there’s no known influenza A subtype that’s only found in humans? That makes influenza a perfect example of why a One Health approach is critical to disease prevention and response. One...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
10.24.18
A Little Girl and a Deadly Virus
By Linette Granen, director, Marketing & Membership, APHL This story begins as many others. A young lady met a young man, got married and had a baby, whom they adored. They were children of immigrants — her family was from Germany and his from Italy....
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
09.21.18
Improving newborn sickle cell screening in Africa: ‘We can affect change there just like we did in the US’
by Kim Krisberg In the US, nearly all children born with sickle cell disease survive into adulthood. Across the globe in sub-Saharan Africa, more than half of babies born with the genetic condition don’t survive until their fifth birthdays. A major...
Global Health, Newborn Screening and Genetics
Lab Culture News article
09.18.18
APHL and Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network Reaffirm Cross-border Partnership with MOU
Recently APHL and the Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network (CPHLN) signed a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) that reaffirms their long-standing collaboration and updates the specifics of the MOU. Executive Director Scott Becker, MS, and...
Lab Culture News article
08.30.18
Lab Culture Ep. 16: Informatics and bat snuggles
Joanne Bartkus, APHL’s board president and director of the Public Health Laboratory at the Minnesota Department of Health, sat down with Scott Becker, our executive director, and Gynene Sullivan, editor of Lab Matters magazine, to talk about...
Lab Culture News article
06.05.18
What a Day! Day 3 of the APHL Annual Meeting
Day 3 of the APHL Annual Meeting was a big one! We had several captivating sessions including this year’s Katherine Kelley Distinguished Lecturer, Maryn McKenna, renowned journalist and author. Listen to today’s episode to hear a few attendees share...
Lab Culture News article
06.04.18
Reporting from the Exhibit Hall: Day 2 of the APHL Annual Meeting
A huge component of any APHL Annual Meeting is the exhibit hall. This year we were joined by 68 exhibitors, all of whom were sharing new and interesting products, services and technologies with meeting attendees. In today’s episode, we chat with...
Lab Culture News article
06.03.18
Hello, Pasadena! Day 1 of the APHL Annual Meeting
We are in sunny Pasadena, California for the 2018 APHL Annual Meeting! Here is a little look at what we did on the first day. Stay tuned for updates every day through June 5. You can listen to our show via the player embedded below or on iTunes,...
Lab Culture News article
05.24.18
Lab Culture Ep. 12: Bitten by the public health bug — How I found my lab niche
The people who work in public health laboratories make a difference in your community daily. In this third episode, members of the Emerging Leader Program cohort 10 sit down with their peers to hear how their public health laboratory careers have...
Lab Culture News article
05.17.18
Lab Culture Ep. 11: What if there were no public health labs?
Maybe the saying is true: you don’t know what you had until it is gone. For the families in this episode, the absence of public health laboratories turned their worlds upside down and negatively impacted both the present and future. These families...
Lab Culture News article
05.11.18
How my fellowship and an interest in oysters took me to France
By Chelsea Carman When I applied to APHL’s Infectious Diseases Laboratory Fellowship in 2017, I had no idea I’d find myself spending three weeks in Nantes, France, with a leading expert in norovirus detection in oysters. While I love to travel, and...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
04.25.18
Lab Culture Ep. 10: Public health labs do that?!
Public health laboratories do a great deal of work that impacts the daily lives of everyone in America. Do you know exactly how much they’re doing? The first episode produced by members of the Emerging Leader Program cohort 10 looks at some of the...
Lab Culture News article
04.23.18
Lab Culture Ep. 9: What is the APHL Emerging Leader Program?
What is the Emerging Leader Program (ELP)? APHL staff, Pandora Ray and Kajari Shah, share how the ELP got its start and how it has progressed. This year’s ELP cohort is producing three episodes for Lab Culture that will be released over the coming...
Lab Culture News article
04.05.18
Everything you need for Lab Week 2018
Get ready for Lab Week! April 22-28 we will join our members and partners to celebrate the vital contributions laboratory professionals make to protect public health and safety in the US and around the globe. APHL will be particularly focused on the...
Lab Culture News article
03.23.18
Lab Culture Ep. 8: Leaders for a TB free world
Every year on March 24, APHL recognizes World TB Day, a day to focus on the valuable work of our members and partners. While tuberculosis is often considered a disease of the past, it is resurging and presenting significant new public health...
Infectious Diseases, Tuberculosis
Lab Culture News article
02.26.18
Do you have questions about packaging and shipping regulations that are not easily answered?  
By Patricia Payne, president, JBM Associates, Inc.; consultant, APHL In some circumstances, when a question arises about classification, hazardous material (hazmat) compliance or how to package a specimen, time is of the essence. You need answers...
Lab Culture News article
02.20.18
Four Corners States Biomonitoring Collaborative: Leveraging lab capacity toward regional health concerns
By Kim Krisberg 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid—otherwise known as 2,4-D—is the active ingredient in a variety of weed killers and one of the most common, widely used herbicides in the world. Studies in lab animals have found that high doses of 2,4-D...
Environmental Health
Lab Culture News article
01.24.18
Q&A with Iowa lab’s safety officer, Drew Fayram: How the CDC/APHL biosafety and biosecurity program created a culture of safety
APHL recently checked in with Drew Fayram, the safety officer at the State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa, to get his perspective on the progress of the CDC/APHL biosafety and biosecurity program. Initiated in 2016 with support from...
Lab Culture News article
01.10.18
Public health labs at center of 2017 mumps outbreaks: ‘This really could be a new normal for mumps’
by Kim Krisberg As of December 2, more than 4,900 cases of mumps had been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2017. That’s less than the previous year’s case count of more than 6,000, but it’s still thousands more than any...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
12.22.17
Lab Culture Ep. 7: APHL’s International Team Meeting
The APHL International Team Meeting allows for US-based APHL leadership and global health program staff and consultants working in-country to discuss organizational operations and key programmatic successes and challenges. In most cases, this is the...
Global Health
Lab Culture News article
12.01.17
Scaling-up viral load testing in Ghana is critical to stopping HIV
By Robyn Sagal, specialist, Global Health, APHL; Samantha Dittrich, manager, Global Health Security, APHL When HIV first struck Ghana in 1986, it didn’t adhere to global trends. There was a high prevalence of HIV in females, not males. The spread...
Global Health
Lab Culture News article
11.20.17
APHL says thank you
This year, APHL again joined Research!America and other public health partners to celebrate Public Health Thank You Day! Each year on the Monday before Thanksgiving, we take a moment to thank our staff, members, partners and others in the public...
Lab Culture News article
11.03.17
Biorisk management is fundamental to global health security
By Samantha Dittrich, manager, Global Health Security Agenda, APHL Over the past 60 years, the number of new diseases per decade has increased nearly fourfold. Since 1980, the number of outbreaks per year has more than tripled. These alarming trends...
Global Health
Lab Culture News article
10.24.17
Lab Culture Ep. 6: What is the Biosafety Peer Network?
The Biosafety Peer Network (aka the Visiting Biosafety Official Program) links US local, state, and territorial public health laboratories with US-affiliated Pacific Island laboratories to facilitate mentoring and information sharing among biosafety...
Lab Culture News article
10.05.17
From Paper to PC in Mozambique: Implementing Electronic Laboratory Information Systems
By Elizabeth Toure, senior specialist, Global Health, APHL, and Reshma Kakkar, manager, Global Health LIS, APHL Dr. Isabel Pinto, Director of the National Directorate of Medical Assistance (DNAM) at the Mozambique Ministry of Health, has a clear and...
Global Health
Lab Culture News article
09.15.17
Hurricane preparation and response resource list
Updated September 15, 2017 In the wake of hurricanes Harvey and Irma, public health laboratories in affected regions will be busy testing for potential environmental contamination, monitoring for increased water- and mosquito-borne diseases, or...
Lab Culture News article
09.05.17
Lab Culture Ep. 5: My Niece’s Positive Newborn Screen
Four years ago, as APHL joined with partners to celebrate the 50th anniversary of routine newborn screening in the United States, newborn screening hit more closely for APHL staff than it ever had before. Michelle Forman, manager of media and Lab...
Newborn Screening and Genetics
Lab Culture News article
07.06.17
Laboratory twinning builds strong lab systems and relationships
By David Mills, PhD, retired director, Scientific Laboratory Division, New Mexico Department of Health When I first got involved in twinning, I had no idea that Halloween costumes would be part of the process. Let me explain. During my time as...
Global Health
Lab Culture News article
06.15.17
Farewell, Providence! APHL Annual Meeting — Days 3 and 4
After four days of fascinating speakers, networking with peers and partners from around the world, and enjoying public health jokes that only insiders would understand, the 2017 APHL Annual Meeting came to a close. It was the largest meeting yet with...
Lab Culture News article
06.13.17
APHL Annual Meeting — Day 2
It was another great day at the APHL Annual Meeting! From cholera to opioids to storytelling, the day was packed full of fascinating presentations from experts. Follow #APHL on Twitter and Instagram to join the conversation! Day 1 round-up [View the...
Lab Culture News article
06.12.17
UberOps CEO talks public health in the cloud
In a very short time, Americans have become increasingly familiar with the cloud. Not the white fluffy ones in the sky, but the cloud where much of our day-to-day computing takes place. Even for people who aren’t familiar with the term, they likely...
Informatics
Lab Culture News article
06.12.17
AIMS Platform: Outpacing Pathogens from the Cloud
By Rachel Shepherd, associate specialist, Informatics, APHL ​​In a kindergarten classroom in Des Moines, a small boy begins to shiver uncontrollably. In a nursing home in Phoenix, a pneumonic grandmother fights for her life from a hospital bed. On a...
Informatics
Lab Culture News article
06.12.17
Hello, Providence! APHL Annual Meeting — Day 1
We had an exciting first day of the 2017 APHL Annual Meeting in Providence! The meeting kicked-off with a warm welcome from Dr. Ewa King, director of the Rhode Island State Health Laboratories, and Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, director of the Rhode...
Lab Culture News article
06.06.17
CDC Cuts Threaten our Health and our Economy
By Scott J. Becker, executive director, APHL The president’s proposed 2018 budget and repeal of the Affordable Care Act threaten to slash $2.3 billion from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A defense agency in all but name, CDC protects...
Lab Culture News article
05.24.17
Lab Culture Ep. 4: Past, Present and Future of PulseNet
PulseNet revolutionized foodborne outbreak detection in the United States. What exactly is it? How did it get started? Why was it so significant? And what does the future of foodborne outbreak detection look like? Brian Sauders, molecular...
Food Safety
Lab Culture News article
04.26.17
Rhode Island laboratory responds to toxic algae bloom, safeguarding health and the local economy
by Kim Krisberg Every week, the Rhode Island State Health Laboratory tests water from Narragansett Bay, monitoring the estuary for harmful toxin producing plankton that can contaminate the seafood that makes it to market. The testing protects both...
Environmental Health
Lab Culture News article
04.03.17
Everything you need for Lab Week 2017
Lab Week is coming! April 23-29 we will join our members and partners to celebrate the vital contributions laboratory professionals make to protect public health and safety. APHL will be particularly focused on the laboratory professionals who make...
Lab Culture News article
03.21.17
Lab Culture Ep. 2: Hill Day 2017
On March 6, a small group of APHL members and our policy staff visited House and Senate offices as part of our annual Hill Day. Peter Kyriacopoulos, APHL’s senior director of public policy, interviewed the group following their meetings to get their...
Lab Culture News article
02.28.17
Making Sense of Newborn Screening Cut-off Values
Newborn screening is the practice of screening every baby in their first 24-48 hours of life for certain harmful or potentially fatal conditions that are not otherwise apparent at birth. For babies who have abnormal screens for one of these...
Newborn Screening and Genetics
Lab Culture News article
02.16.17
Lab Culture Ep. 1: Critical Consequences
Did you know that the Affordable Care Act (ACA, aka Obamacare) includes critical public health funding? What would the repeal of the ACA mean for public health? Peter Kyriacopoulos, APHL’s senior director of public policy, talks about the CDC-managed...
Lab Culture News article
02.08.17
PulseNet key to solving 2010 E. coli outbreak linked to lettuce
by Kim Krisberg On April 22, 2010, federal public health officials notified the New York State Department of Health of two E. coli clusters at colleges in Michigan and Ohio. The very next day, the New York agency got word of an illness cluster in its...
Food Safety
Lab Culture News article
01.23.17
Milwaukee public health lab gives students a hands-on experience
Each year the City of Milwaukee Health Department organizes a Back-to-School Health Fair for local children. The health fair allows Milwaukee’s most underserved students to access free immunizations, annual check-ups, public health education, blood...
Lab Culture News article
01.12.17
APHL and EPA formalize environmental health partnership
By Scott J. Becker, executive director, APHL Earlier this week, on behalf of APHL, I had the honor of signing an agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) formalizing what will be an invaluable partnership. Leading our nation in...
Environmental Health
Lab Culture News article
01.06.17
PulseNet helps Washington public health solve largest Salmonella outbreak in recent history
By Kim Krisberg In Washington state, it’s not entirely unusual for tiny clusters of foodborne illness to pop up throughout a given year. But in mid-2015, when reports of Salmonella clusters began popping up one right after another across multiple...
Food Safety
Lab Culture News article
01.03.17
Leading the Zika relay race and other presidential priorities for 2017
By A. Christian Whelen, PhD, D(ABMM), laboratory director, Hawaii Department of Health State Laboratories; president, APHL Board of Directors Hau`oli Makahiki Hou (“Happy New Year” in Hawaiian)! In 2017, APHL and its members face some significant...
Lab Culture News article
12.21.16
APHL’s top 10 blog posts of 2016
There is never a dull year in public health, but 2016 seemed particularly eventful. From Zika to the twentieth anniversary of PulseNet, APHL’s top blog posts reflect the ups and downs of the year. Even if it was tumultuous at times, we are extremely...
Lab Culture News article
12.08.16
With PulseNet, handful of E. coli cases reveal multistate outbreak, prompt huge recall
By Kim Krisberg In 2014, two Ohio residents living more than 100 miles apart were diagnosed with an E. coli infection. Twenty years ago, the two cases might have been chalked up to coincidence — after all, tens of millions of Americans experience...
Food Safety
Lab Culture News article
12.01.16
Zimbabwe makes significant strides in the fight against HIV/AIDS
From Zimbabwe’s first diagnosed case of HIV/AIDS in 1985 until 1997, the country’s health situation became increasingly dire: At the disease’s peak, 29% of the population was infected. Since then, Zimbabwe has made significant strides in the fight...
Global Health
Lab Culture News article
11.21.16
APHL says THANK YOU on this Public Health Thank You Day
APHL is joining Research!America and many other partners to say “Thank you!” on this Public Health Thank You Day. We are thankful to be part of this passionate, dedicated, hardworking community. Below are additional thoughts from some APHL staff...
Lab Culture News article
11.16.16
Antimicrobial resistance: What is it? Why is it a problem? What is being done to stop it?
By Kelly Wroblewski, director, infectious diseases, APHL Antimicrobial resistance is arguably the most significant public health threat facing the world today. As resistance builds, the threat of severe illness or death from common infections becomes...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
11.11.16
When and why is it legal to not follow the DOT packaging instructions? 
By Patricia Payne, president, JBM Associates, Inc.; consultant, APHL If you have completed any packaging and shipping training, you are undoubtedly aware that you must always follow the packaging instructions as written in the hazardous materials...
Lab Culture News article
11.03.16
One Health and the Global Health Security Agenda must go hand in hand
By Samantha Dittrich, manager, Global Health Security Agenda, APHL Did you know that most infectious diseases are caused by pathogens transferred between animals and humans? At least 75% of emerging and re-emerging diseases are...
Global Health
Lab Culture News article
09.26.16
Inside the public health lab Zika response: ‘It’s the great unknown as to how much longer this will go on’
By Kim Krisberg Public health laboratory scientists are well used to the preparations and demands that come with emerging disease threats. But Zika virus is different. “With SARS, West Nile virus, H1N1 flu, mumps outbreaks — those came and were gone...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
09.20.16
Random dog food sample proved critical in solving human illness outbreak
As part of Michigan’s routine pet food surveillance program, microbiologists in the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Laboratory Division were used to testing random samples of dog food. While they rarely found anything...
Food Safety
Lab Culture News article
09.06.16
7 times public health preparedness proved critical
Our nation’s public health system responds to emergencies such as natural disasters, infectious disease outbreaks, bioterrorism attacks and more both domestically and globally. There’s no way to know what the next threat will be or when it will...
Lab Culture News article
08.05.16
3 Zika tests explained
by Anne Gaynor, manager of HIV, hepatitis, STD and TB programs, APHL Public health laboratories around the US have been in the epicenter of Zika response efforts. Unlike many viruses, Zika virus requires multiple tests performed at various stages of...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
08.04.16
Fighting antimicrobial resistance requires clinical and public health response
By Kelly Wroblewski, director, Infectious Disease Programs, APHL They may be invisible to the naked eye and their names may be hard to pronounce, but antimicrobial resistant bacteria – bacteria that don’t respond to common antibiotics – pose a...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
07.27.16
APHL urged action on Zika but Congress didn’t listen
By Peter Kyriacopoulos, senior director of public policy, APHL On January 11, 2016, APHL first expressed concern about the public health implications of Zika virus – then a practically unheard-of disease – to Capitol Hill leadership staff. Many in...
Lab Culture News article
06.29.16
Sprouts: Just say no?
By Caitlin Saucier Feltner, BSN, RN Most people have seen or eaten sprouts, the crunchy mild-tasting greens that are often incorporated into stir-fried dishes and nestled into sandwiches to add texture and color. Did you know that many food safety...
Food Safety
Lab Culture News article
06.08.16
2016 Annual Meeting — Day 3
Today we honored public health leaders from around the world. Congratulations to all award winners! Check out our Storify for more tweets. Top Tweets: https://twitter.com/PublicHealthSam/status/740571935852093442 Congrats to our own Dr. Lixia Lu,...
Lab Culture News article
06.08.16
2016 Annual Meeting — Day 2
What a day! Below are some of the top tweets and a few photo highlights. For more of the day’s tweets, check out our Storify. Top Tweets: https://twitter.com/PublicHealthSam/status/740199825845587969 We're so excited to serve Public Health Labs!...
Lab Culture News article
06.07.16
2016 Annual Meeting — Day 1
Today APHL kicked-off our largest annual meeting yet! We are thrilled to be in Albuquerque, New Mexico with over 600 public health laboratory leaders and partners from around the world. Whether you’re with us in Albuquerque or listening from afar,...
Lab Culture News article
05.02.16
CDC Emergency Operations Center: Always on Alert
By Tyler Wolford, senior specialist, Laboratory Response Network, APHL Positioned among administrative offices, high containment laboratories and extensive corridors at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters is the state...
Lab Culture News article
04.27.16
Utah raw milk outbreak was difficult – but not impossible – to stop
By several contributors from the Utah Department of Health While the asserted health benefits of unpasteurized milk (aka, raw milk) have been debated, the public health community widely agrees that raw milk can carry potentially serious foodborne...
Food Safety
Lab Culture News article
04.26.16
Q&A with Hawaii’s state laboratory director
We spoke with Chris Whelen, PhD, laboratory director of the Hawaii Department of Health State Laboratories Division, about the state lab’s work and what he loves about his job. Chris is also president-elect of APHL’s Board of Directors. How did you...
Lab Culture News article
04.22.16
Q&A with Iowa’s Environmental Laboratory Director
We talked with Michael Wichman, PhD, environmental laboratory director at the State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa, about what makes environmental labs unique. Learn more about environmental laboratories on APHL’s website and blog. How...
Environmental Health
Lab Culture News article
04.13.16
Everything you need for Lab Week 2016
Lab Week is right around the corner! April 24-30 we will join several other laboratory associations to celebrate the vital contributions laboratory professionals make to protect public health and safety. APHL will be particularly focused on the...
Lab Culture News article
04.06.16
What is a public health laboratory?
Public health laboratories keep us safe and healthy. But, hey, you know that! Do your friends and family? How about your elected officials? Help us spread the word about what these highly specialized laboratories are doing to protect us from...
Lab Culture News article
03.24.16
Identifying and treating latent TB cases is critical for TB elimination
By Paul Zell, specialist, TB Program, APHL For many in the United States, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) is not a concern. It is viewed as a disease that is uncommon in the US and seldom a real threat to your average person. This could not be...
Infectious Diseases, Tuberculosis
Lab Culture News article
03.23.16
Zica: vírus antigo, novos desafios
For English | Spanish Apesar de o zica ser um vírus antigo, essa epidemia recente criou muitos desafios e questionamentos novos. Nossos parceiros e colegas da comunidade de saúde pública estão trabalhando incessantemente para entender melhor essa...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
03.23.16
Zika: un virus antiguo con nuevos desafíos
For English | Portuguese Si bien el Zika no es virus nuevo, este brote reciente ha generado muchos desafíos y preguntas nuevas. Nuestros socios y colegas dentro de la comunidad de la salud pública están trabajando para entender mejor este brote y sus...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
03.23.16
Enfermedades transmitidas por vectores en comparación con los productos químicos de los repelentes de insectos: valoración de los riesgos
For English | Portuguese  Con el clima caliente y húmedo llegan noticias de enfermedades transmitidas por mosquitos y garrapatas y al mismo tiempo escuchamos preocupaciones en torno a los repelentes de insectos que debemos usar para protegernos. ¿Qué...
Lab Culture News article
03.23.16
Doença transmitida por vetor versus produtos químicos em repelentes contra insetos: Avaliação dos riscos
For English | Spanish Em lugares com climas quentes e úmidos surgem notícias de disseminação de doenças por mosquitos e carrapatos. Ouvimos também preocupações relacionadas aos repelentes contra insetos que deveríamos usar para nos proteger. O que...
Lab Culture News article
03.15.16
20 years of PulseNet: Preventing thousands of illnesses and saving millions of dollars
Happy anniversary, PulseNet! For 20 years, this revolutionary national laboratory network has triggered outbreak investigations far more quickly than before its inception. As we celebrate this landmark, we are looking back at PulseNet’s impact on...
Food Safety
Lab Culture News article
03.07.16
What is PulseNet?
In 1993, a large multistate outbreak linked to Jack in the Box restaurants sickened over 730 people (four of whom died and over 170 of whom had long term health complications). It took one month to determine the cause of the outbreak and even longer...
Food Safety
Lab Culture News article
03.01.16
Addition of lysosomal storage disorders to newborn screening panels is complex and highly emotional
By Michelle Forman, senior specialist, media, APHL When it comes to newborn screening, the primary goal, simply stated, is to save or improve the lives of babies who otherwise may have died or been severely disabled. While the goal of the program is...
Newborn Screening and Genetics
Lab Culture News article
02.23.16
Have questions about newborn screening and genetics? Now is your chance to ask!
Next Monday, APHL will kick off the 2016 Newborn Screening and Genetic Testing Symposium in St. Louis, Missouri! Held every 18 months, this conference brings together newborn screening lab scientists, pediatricians, genetic counselors, follow-up...
Newborn Screening and Genetics
Lab Culture News article
02.18.16
Safely packaging and shipping infectious agents is critical and complex
By Patricia Payne, president, JBM Associates, Inc.; consultant, APHL If you have never been involved with preparing specimens or cultures to transport for diagnosis or further testing, you may not realize all that goes into packaging and shipping...
Lab Culture News article
02.09.16
Zika: Old virus, new challenges
Even though Zika is not a new virus, this recent outbreak has brought forth many new challenges and questions. Our partners and colleagues within the public health community are working hard to better understand this outbreak and its effects while...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
01.06.16
One Team, One Purpose: The Role of USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service in Keeping Food Safe
Guest post by Julie Schwartz and Kristen Booze (Felicione), Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Education, FSIS, USDA There is nothing like a spicy beef chili to keep your belly warm in the fall and winter. Wherever you pick up your recipe...
Food Safety
Lab Culture News article
12.16.15
APHL’s top blog posts of 2015
As 2015 comes to a close, we’re taking a walk down memory lane. Public health headlines included Listeria in ice cream, the Animas River mine waste spill, continued Ebola response and recovery, and the loss of too many public health colleagues....
Lab Culture News article
12.09.15
Remembering those lost in San Bernardino and Mali
By Scott J. Becker, executive director, APHL Public health embodies dedication and resilience. We work to protect our communities from threats every day, overcoming innumerable obstacles along the way. In less than one month, the public health...
Lab Culture News article
12.01.15
Small but mighty Zimbabwe lab team meets challenges in reaching HIV testing goals
For decades, APHL has worked in more than 30 nations to train and support lab professionals fighting HIV/AIDS, often under agreements with CDC and the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). One of those nations is Zimbabwe. In 2004,...
Global Health
Lab Culture News article
11.19.15
When you have the flu, it isn’t just about you
By Melissa Warren, Senior Specialist, Influenza, APHL Fever, body aches, cough… you suspect the flu. You drag yourself out of bed to visit your healthcare provider where they use a swab to take a small sample from your throat or nose for a...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
11.18.15
Get Smart: 4 easy ways you can combat antibiotic resistance
By Kelly Wroblewski, director, infectious disease, APHL It has been nearly 90 years since Alexander Fleming took the first step toward discovering penicillin in 1928. Since mass production began in 1941, people have been using antibiotics to treat...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
11.16.15
APHL is a proud partner in the Global Health Security Agenda
Today President Obama announced the United States and 30 other nations have committed to join together to achieve the targets of the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA).  APHL is proud to be a key partner in the effort to make the world safe from...
Global Health
Lab Culture News article
11.12.15
3 critical lessons learned from Louisiana’s flu data
By Melissa Warren, Senior Specialist, Influenza, APHL and Kelsey Vellente, Senior Technician, Food Safety & Infectious Disease, APHL It’s flu season, the dreaded time of year when everyone hopes that they are not one of the thousands of Americans who...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
10.19.15
Lessons learned as a food safety professional
We asked some of our food safety program staff and committee members a simple question: How has your work changed the way you eat and/or think about food? Here are their responses… Before I start prepping any high-risk food like raw meat, I make sure...
Food Safety
Lab Culture News article
10.15.15
Lab sciences grad program brought me from the yogurt factory to public health
by Joe Shea, MS, research assistant, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health My career as a laboratory scientist started in a yogurt factory. Yes, you read that correctly. And no, it was definitely not your typical lab experience....
Lab Culture News article
10.13.15
APHL joins partners in Sierra Leone to strengthen lab capacity in Ebola’s wake
This week a team of APHL staff and consultants traveled to Freetown, Sierra Leone where they will join US federal and Sierra Leonean partners to launch a year-long project to support and strengthen the country’s laboratory system in the aftermath of...
Global Health
Lab Culture News article
10.07.15
Iowa’s public health lab is a Blue Zones organization — What does that mean?
Article by Bill Christensen, environmental supervisor and Blue Zones Organization member, State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa Admit it. You want to get paid for working and having fun, too. Who wouldn’t? You get that when you work at...
Lab Culture News article
10.01.15
September 30, 2014: As Ebola Arrived, the Texas Public Health Lab was Ready
This post was originally written for From The Lab Bench on October 2, 2014. ________ By Michelle M. Forman, senior media specialist, APHL The world is not as large as it often seems, and there are countless reminders that diseases are willing...
Lab Culture News article
09.21.15
Newborn screening saved these babies. How are they doing now?
By Michelle Forman, senior media specialist, APHL In 2012 and 2013, as we celebrated the 50th anniversary of newborn screening, APHL began gathering stories from families who had a child born with a condition detected with this invaluable little heel...
Newborn Screening and Genetics
Lab Culture News article
09.17.15
Building Connections and Recognizing Excellence at the 2015 LRN National Meeting
By Kara MacKeil-Pepin, associate specialist, Public Health Preparedness and Response, APHL At the 2015 Laboratory Response Network (LRN) National Meeting in Atlanta, members gathered to learn from each other, solve problems, and finally put a face to...
Lab Culture News article
09.10.15
Responding to the Animas River disaster: Who’s testing what?
by Megan Latshaw, director, Environmental Health, APHL It was Saturday morning and my energetic six-year-old daughter was occupied for a moment, so I had a few seconds of quiet to scroll through my Twitter newsfeed. This photo of Colorado’s Animas...
Environmental Health
Lab Culture News article
09.09.15
Remembering Dr. Kenneth Pass, a newborn screening champion
It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Dr. Kenneth Pass. Ken was a passionate man whose heart was always in the right place. Dr. Pass served as the New York State Newborn Screening Program...
Newborn Screening and Genetics
Lab Culture News article
08.20.15
Celebrating Laboratory-Epidemiology Collaboration
by Jeffrey Engel, MD, executive director, Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) Jeffrey Engel, MD is executive director of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE), the Association of Public Health Laboratories’...
Lab Culture News article
07.29.15
Moving from academia to public health: Did I make the right choice?
By Lixia Liu, PhD, MP (ASCP), D(ABMM), deputy director, Indiana Department of Health Laboratories Lixia Liu is a member of APHL’s Emerging Leaders Program (Cohort 6). The group developed an educational website called That’s Sick! to introduce...
Lab Culture News article
07.16.15
The lowdown on lead
Ruhiyyih Degeberg, MPH, senior specialist, Environmental Health, APHL Six months ago I transitioned from the newborn screening program at APHL into the environmental health program. As I set out to learn as much as I could about many areas of...
Environmental Health
Lab Culture News article
06.23.15
Q&A with NewSTEPs: Bringing routine CCHD newborn screening to every state
The latest release of CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) highlights the rapidly expanding program to routinely test all newborns for critical congenital heart disease (CCHD). In September 2011, CCHD was added to the HHS secretary’s...
Newborn Screening and Genetics
Lab Culture News article
06.02.15
Representing Public Health Labs at the White House Forum on Antibiotic Stewardship
By Scott J. Becker, executive director, APHL Today I am representing APHL by joining over 150 major public health organizations, food companies, retailers and many other stakeholders at the White House Forum on Antibiotic Stewardship. We are each...
Lab Culture News article
05.21.15
2015 Annual Meeting — Day 4
  Today is the final day of the 2015 APHL Annual Meeting and Ninth Government Environmental Laboratory Conference. Over the past few days, we have all learned a lot and had some fun along the way. Thank you to APHL members, partners, exhibitors and...
Lab Culture News article
04.22.15
Healthier Communities Thanks to the National Environmental Public Health Tracking Network
By Michelle M. Forman, senior specialist, media, APHL Your state’s childhood cancer rates are within normal – but what about your community that was once home to a factory? People suddenly became ill after having a lakeside picnic too close to idling...
Environmental Health
Lab Culture News article
04.13.15
5 Things You Didn’t Know (but Need to Know) about Listeria
By Michelle Forman, senior specialist, media, APHL Listeria has reared its ugly head (and tail – flagella, technically speaking) seemingly quite a bit recently. According to FDA, there have been 14 recalls due to possible Listeria contamination so...
Food Safety
Lab Culture News article
04.06.15
It is never just a cold
By Stephanie Chester, Manager, Influenza Program, APHL “Oh, it’s just a cold,” seems to be a common phrase heard in office spaces and schools alike during the winter months. But is it just a cold? Are we belittling our coughs and sneezing by grouping...
Infectious Diseases
Lab Culture News article
02.24.15
APHL Coaching Initiative Spans Continents
By Michelle M. Forman, senior specialist, media, APHL Andy Cannons was a member of APHL’s Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) Cohort III in 2011, an intensive year-long leadership development program for promising public health laboratory scientists. “It...
Global Health
Lab Culture News article
02.10.15
From The Lorax to the Laboratory
Environmental Health
Lab Culture News article
01.12.15
Newborn Screening: This Tiny Test is a Big Job That’s Always Improving
APHL Newborn screening saves or improves lives – 12,000 each year, to be specific. Every year over four million babies born in the United States have their heels pricked during the first days of life to check...
Newborn Screening and Genetics
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Providing Analysis:

Lab Matters Magazine

Read the latest articles from APHL's quarterly magazine and flagship publication, Lab Matters. Find both technical and non-technical articles covering topics across public health laboratory science, administration, careers and management:
Lab Matters article
Spring 2026
Why Public Health Emergency Preparedness Funding Matters for Public Health Laboratories
Public health laboratories are a foundational component of the nation’s public health emergency preparedness and response system. PHEP cooperative agreement funding plays a critical role in sustaining and strengthening their capacity.
Training and Professional Development, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Laboratory Operations and Systems
Lab Matters article
Summer 2026
Internship Proves to be Fast Track to Employment for Iowa Graduate
Fellowships aren’t the only pathway to employment through the Career Pathways in Public Health Laboratory Science: An APHL-CDC Initiative. Internships can also prove to be a fast track to the laboratory workforce.
APHL, Career Development, Internships, Workforce Development, Outreach
Lab Matters article
Spring 2026
APHL and FDA Partner on Cronobacter Detection Training
In September 2025, APHL partnered with FDA to deliver a first-of-its-kind, in-person laboratory training on detecting Cronobacter spp. in powdered infant formula.
Food Safety, Training, Food Testing, Foodborne Disease
Lab Matters article
Summer 2026
Impact of the Public Health Laboratory System Database
Recently, APHL interviewed three public health laboratory directors who are long-standing members of the Public Health Laboratory System Database Task Force and who have guided the design and build-out of the system since its inception in 2018.
General, Data Management, Knowledge Management, Quality and Safety Systems
Lab Matters article
Summer 2026
Advancing Public Health Through Metagenomics: Kenya’s Collaborative Success Story
Over the past two years, CDC has provided technical and financial support to APHL to implement Applied Science Hub projects aimed at strengthening genomic surveillance and the use of metagenomics to address priority public health threats in Kenya.
Public Health Preparedness and Response, Disease Surveillance, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Genomics and Sequencing
Lab Matters article
Spring 2026
Mapping a Path to Laboratory Surveillance in Bangladesh
In 2024, APHL began work with CDC and the Bangladesh Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to implement a laboratory mapping initiative. The project focused on developing a mapping tool to obtain data on the national public health laboratory system.
APHL, Disease Surveillance, Laboratory Operations and Systems
Lab Matters article
Spring 2026
When Systems Fail: Building Resilient Laboratory Informatics Through Comprehensive COOP Planning
As public health laboratories become increasingly dependent on digital infrastructure, comprehensive COOP planning has evolved from a recommended practice to an essential requirement for maintaining critical public health services when systems fail.
Public Health Preparedness and Response, Quality and Safety Systems, Laboratory Operations and Systems, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Data Management
Lab Matters article
Summer 2026
Building Biorisk Management Across Public Health Laboratories: A Collaboration with the National Authority for Containment of Poliovirus
CDC’s National Authority for Containment of Poliovirus was created in 2018 to implement a poliovirus containment program focused on reducing the risk of accidental release from facilities handling or storing poliovirus.
Policy, Biosafety and Biosecurity, Training
Lab Matters article
Spring 2026
Public Health Laboratory Ambassadors Engage Students Across the Country in 2025
The APHL Public Health Laboratory Ambassadors Program has sought to connect public health laboratory professionals with students and local community members to share the value of public health laboratory careers.
General, APHL, Career Development, Outreach, Workforce Development
Lab Matters article
Spring 2026
APHL Committee Instrumental in Enhancements to FDA Food Chemistry Data Review Protocols
APHL advisory committees being a powerful conduit for change was illustrated in 2025 through the Human and Animal Food Committee’s successful effort to streamline processes for state food chemistry data.
Policy, Data Management, Policies and Regulations
Lab Matters article
Spring 2026
Equity, Accuracy and Stewardship: Rethinking Vaginitis Diagnosis for Women Everywhere
Vaginitis remains a leading cause of gynecologic-related primary care visits in the United States, yet the approach to diagnosis and treatment continues to present significant challenges for clinicians and public health professionals.
General, Antimicrobial Resistance
Lab Matters article
Spring 2026
Training Yields Readiness: Lessons Learned from a North Dakota Radiation Response
As a member of the LRN-C, the North Dakota Public Health Laboratory has a strong operational foundation for emergency response. Its relationships with its public health partners proved invaluable during a recent radiation exposure incident.
Public Health Preparedness and Response, Biosafety and Biosecurity, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Laboratory Operations and Systems
Lab Matters article
Spring 2026
75 Years of Membership
Reflecting on changes in APHL's membership over its 75-year history.
General, APHL
Lab Matters article
Summer 2026
Bridging the Gap: How Technical Assistance is Modernizing AR Data Exchange
In the fight against drug-resistant pathogens, the mandate is clear for laboratory directors and informatics leads: the speed of data exchange is as critical as the accuracy of laboratory testing.
Infectious Diseases, Antimicrobial Resistance, Disease Surveillance, Data Management, Laboratory Operations and Systems
Lab Matters article
Summer 2026
APHL Convenes 14th National Conference on the Laboratory Aspects of Tuberculosis
March 10–12, 2026, tuberculosis (TB) laboratorians from across the country gathered in Atlanta for the 14th National Conference on Laboratory Aspects of TB.
APHL, Disease Surveillance, Genomics and Sequencing, Tuberculosis
Lab Matters article
Summer 2026
Uganda Ministry of Health Launches National Laboratory Data Repository
The Uganda Ministry of Health has officially launched the National Laboratory Data Repository, marking a major digital milestone in Uganda’s healthcare system.
Informatics, Data Management, Disease Surveillance, Laboratory Operations and Systems
Lab Matters article
Summer 2026
CryptoNet at 11: A Decade of Science, Surveillance and Shared Public Health Action
For over a decade, CryptoNet has demonstrated what public health can accomplish when laboratories, epidemiologists and national partners operate as a true network rather than as isolated programs.
Public Health Preparedness and Response, Disease Surveillance, Food Testing, Foodborne Disease
Lab Matters article
Summer 2026
APHL 2026: Laboratory Science and Public Health Meet in Charm City
May 4–7, 2026, over 1,400 public health scientists and administrators attended APHL 2026 in Baltimore, MD.
General
Lab Matters article
Summer 2026
Why Communicating Biomonitoring Success is Needed
biomonitoring data can inform policy decisions and be used to track trends in exposure over time. For example, biomonitoring measurements showing high levels of lead in the American population were a major factor in the removal of lead from gasoline.
General, Outreach, Biosafety and Biosecurity, Environmental Monitoring
Lab Matters article
Summer 2026
Developing Leaders, Strengthening Laboratories: The Impact of APHL’s Leadership Development Programs
Through its leadership development programs, APHL supports professionals at multiple career stages while strengthening long-term connections across the laboratory community.
APHL, Career Development, Leadership Development, Workforce Development
Lab Matters article
Spring 2026
Managing Sustainable Public Health Data Exchange at the National Level
The pandemic taught that rapid scale-up in response to emergencies is only sustainable when paired with a platform that can agilely connect public health systems and healthcare providers across the country. Enter the AIMS Platform.
APHL, Data Management, Knowledge Management, Laboratory Operations and Systems, Quality and Safety Systems
Lab Matters article
Spring 2026
Strengthening Foodborne Outbreak Response With CIFOR in Kentucky
APHL partnered with the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) and the Tennessee Integrated Food Safety Center of Excellence to host a CIFOR Toolkit workshop designed to refine foodborne outbreak response across multiple KDPH program areas.
Training and Professional Development, Training, Workforce Development, Foodborne Disease
Lab Matters article
Spring 2026
President's Message: Reflections on a Milestone
A message from APHL President Scott Shone on how far APHL has come in 75 years.
General
Lab Matters article
Summer 2026
Beyond the Data: The Science of Storytelling—Strategies for telling public health stories of impact
Recently, public health laboratories—and laboratorians—have found themselves new, non-scientific roles: public health storytellers and messengers, relaying stories about funding, the work and the people behind the bench.
General, Outreach, Advocacy
Lab Matters article
Summer 2026
Whole Genome Sequencing Detects Regional Cluster of New Delhi Metallo-β-lactamase Carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in New York
In November 2024, epidemiologists from the New York State Department of Health identified six residents of the same nursing home with highly antimicrobial-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae infections.
General, Disease Surveillance, Antimicrobial Resistance, Genomics and Sequencing
Lab Matters article
Spring 2026
The NGS Quality Initiative Peer Network: Improving Sequencing Quality through Information Sharing and Collaboration
The APHL-CDC NGS Quality Initiative Peer Network was established to improve next generation sequencing (NGS) quality management activities and to promote greater collaboration and expansion of sequencing capabilities in public health laboratories.
APHL, Quality and Safety Systems, Mycology, Knowledge Management, Genomics and Sequencing
Lab Matters article
Spring 2026
National Institute of Health Launches Biosafety Modernization Initiative
In September 2025, the NIH launched the Biosafety Modernization Initiative, an effort to modernize biosafety policies and practices. APHL Biosafety and Biosecurity Committee members share perspectives on how the initiative affects public health labs.
General, Biosafety and Biosecurity, Emergency Preparedness and Response
Lab Matters article
Spring 2026
Member Profile: Maryland Department of Health Laboratories Administration
The Maryland Department of Health Laboratories Administration, the oldest continuous operating unit in the Maryland Department of Health, provides objective and unaffiliated information to medical professionals, public health partners and others.
General, APHL
Lab Matters article
Summer 2026
Evolving STI Diagnostics to Meet Public Health Needs
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) continue to rise across the United States, creating ongoing challenges for public health laboratories as they work to strengthen surveillance, improve case detection and support appropriate clinical management.
General, Disease Surveillance, STIs, Testing Methodology
Lab Matters article
Spring 2026
CEO's Message: The Nature of Partnerships
A message from APHL CEO Scott Becker on the importance of laboratory partnerships.
General
Lab Matters article
Spring 2026
Member Profile: Georgia Department of Agriculture Laboratory
The Georgia Department of Agriculture Laboratory, comprised of an Atlanta branch and a Tifton branch, houses eight unique laboratory sections ranging from food safety microbiology to fuel and oil that cover all 159 counties in the state.
General
Lab Matters article
Summer 2026
Member Profile: Louisiana Department of Health Bureau of Laboratory Services
The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) Bureau of Laboratory Services began when a chemical laboratory to analyze food, dairy products and beverages was established in 1891.
Training and Professional Development
Lab Matters article
Spring 2026
The Results Are In! Data Modernization at Public Health Laboratories Is a Work in Progress
APHL's Data Modernization Subcommittee launched in January 2025 and sought to understand where public health laboratories are in their data modernization journeys. A nationwide survey of informatics personnel revealed challenges and opportunities.
Quality Systems and Analytics, Quality and Safety Systems, Laboratory Operations and Systems, Knowledge Management, Data Management
Lab Matters article
Summer 2026
Behind the Numbers: How Newborn Screening Programs Are Using Data to Make the Case for Better Care
Every year, millions of newborns across the US are screened for serious, but treatable, disorders within days of birth. Test results from a dried blood spot can mean the difference between a child who thrives and one who faces lifelong complications.
APHL, Genomics and Sequencing, Heritable Disorders, Policies and Regulations
Lab Matters article
Spring 2026
Vermont Laboratory Discovers What a Difference a Fellow Can Make
The Vermont Department of Health Public Health Laboratory hosted its first Career Pathways in Public Health Laboratory Science fellow and things went better than they could have hoped.
APHL, Fellowships, Career Development
Lab Matters article
Summer 2026
From Surveillance to Action: Real-time Wastewater Insights at Mass Gatherings
Mass gatherings present a persistent challenge for public health systems. High population density, shared sanitation infrastructure and limited clinical capacity create ideal conditions for infectious disease transmission. Traditional
Global Health, Disease Surveillance, Environmental Monitoring, Viruses
Lab Matters article
Spring 2026
Beyond the Smoke: Emergency Coordination and Environmental Testing Response to the 2025 Los Angeles Fires
During the devastating wildfires that swept through Los Angeles in January 2025, the role of interagency environmental testing was paramount. Coordinated measurements demonstrated an optimized model for public health laboratory response.
Public Health Preparedness and Response, Environmental Exposures, Environmental Monitoring
Lab Matters article
Summer 2026
Restoring Safe Drinking Water in the Wake of Destruction
In 2024, Hurricane Helene was the most destructive weather event ever to strike Western North Carolina (WNC)—an area not typically associated with such devastation.
Public Health Preparedness and Response, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Environmental Monitoring
Lab Matters article
Spring 2026
From Training to Trust: How PulseNet International Is Strengthening Foodborne Disease Surveillance
PulseNet International plays a crucial role in strengthening global capacity for genomic surveillance of antimicrobial resistant enteric pathogens through a robust program of training and collaboration activities.
Food Safety, Food Testing, Genomics and Sequencing, Chemistry, Antimicrobial Resistance
Lab Matters article
Summer 2026
In Their Own Words: Fellows Connect with Communities Through the Public Health Laboratory Ambassadors Program
Fellows Kate Namey and Krithik Duraisamy share their stories of how their experiences as Public Health Laboratory Ambassadors have impacted them.
APHL, General, Outreach, Career Development, Workforce Development
Lab Matters article
Spring 2026
The Intersection of Public Health and One Health
One Health is a concept with the goal of achieving optimal health outcomes for humans, animals, plants and the environment. From a public health perspective, One Health infuses the majority, if not all, of what laboratories do.
Quality Systems and Analytics, Advocacy, Laboratory Operations and Systems, Career Development, Workforce Development, Quality and Safety Systems
Lab Matters article
Summer 2026
75 Years of Workforce Development
Training and Professional Development, Workforce Development, Career Development
Lab Matters article
Summer 2026
President’s and CEO’s Q&A: Looking Back, Looking Forward
During APHL 2026, President-elect Sharon Massingale, President Scott Shone and CEO Scott Becker sat down for a wide-ranging conversation about APHL’s anniversary, the journeys that brought them to this moment and the future of public health.
APHL, Podcast
Lab Matters article
Summer 2026
Member Profile: South Carolina Department of Environmental Services Laboratory
The state environmental laboratories for the state of South Carolina, as we know them today, were established between 1972–74.
General
Lab Matters article
Spring 2026
Rapid Detection and Sequencing of Influenza A in Agricultural Samples: Lessons From Cambodia and Why It Matters for US Food Security
While zoonotic transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A virus to humans in the US has been limited, recent epidemiological trends in Cambodia underscore how quickly zoonotic risks can escalate.
APHL, Genomics and Sequencing, Foodborne Disease, Viruses
Lab Matters article
Spring 2026
Quality, Safety, Traceability: Protecting the Food Supply for US Consumers
Public health laboratories play an increasingly critical role in protecting food safety through testing innovations and collaborations that can help detect foodborne threats to US consumers and stop outbreaks before they start.
Policy, Food Testing, Policies and Regulations
Lab Matters article
Summer 2026
Engaging Staff at Scale: Wadsworth Center’s CARE Steering Committee
In 2024, the NY State Department of Health-Wadsworth Center launched Community. Advancement. Recruitment. Engagement. (CARE)—a new office dedicated to preparing the laboratory workforce for the public health threats of 2030.
General, Workforce Development
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Recent Training Resources

APHL offers a range of training resources, such as live and recorded webinars, on-demand courses, and other educational materials, guides and tools. Find recently published materials below or select "View All" to explore all our offerings.

Training
03.13.26
Introduction to the LIMS and Other Information Systems
This course provides an overview of the LIMS and other information systems that play a key role in laboratory informatics. Topics include LIMS functionality, interoperability, regulations and standards, and LIMS implementation.
Informatics, Data Management
Training
03.13.26
Pertussis Diagnostics: What’s all the Whoop about?
We will explore the rising incidence of pertussis, caused by Bordetella pertussis and the multifaceted public health response required to address this trend.
Infectious Diseases, Respiratory Diseases
Training
03.12.26
Life of a Result
This eLearning course picks up where "Life of a Specime" leaves off and explores laboratory informatics by following a result as it moves through the laboratory and is communicated back to external partners.
Informatics, Data Management
Training
03.11.26
Introduction to Laboratory Informatics: Life of a Specimen
This course explores laboratory informatics by following a specimen as it moves through the laboratory and testing workflow. Topics include informatics personnel, data relationships, data quality and standards, and the generation and flow of information.
Informatics, Data Management
Training
03.11.26
APHL Webinar: Fundamentals of Biosafety and Biosecurity Slides
APHL presented fundamentals of biosafety and biosecurity at a January 2016 webinar. The slides from the presenters (Michael Pentella and Andrew Cannons).
Training and Professional Development, Workforce Development
Training
2026
Understanding TB Laboratory Testing for Public Health Nurses
This module will help participants including public health nurses and TB care and prevention team members improve their understanding of fundamental TB laboratory testing workflows, testing methods, and associated results.
Infectious Diseases, Tuberculosis
Training
2025
Laboratory Ethics Course
Addresses the importance of maintaining ethical behavior on both an individual and organizational level. Covers ethical challenges faced by regulatory organizations, with an emphasis on regulatory laboratories.
Environmental Health, Environmental Exposures, Environmental Monitoring
Training
2025
Essentials for the Mycobacteriology Laboratory: Promoting Quality Practices
This series of free, interactive modules, developed by APHL in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, promotes competency, quality and safety in common mycobacteriology testing practices.
Infectious Diseases, Tuberculosis
Training
2025
Bacterial Meningitis and Beyond
Infectious Diseases, Bacteriology
Training
2025
Laboratory Surge Capacity Tabletop Exercise Guide
Use this guide to cutomize and lead a tabletop exercise focused on laboratory surge capacity, includes link to downloadable exercise.
Public Health Preparedness and Response
Training
2024
Redacción Científica: Conceptos Básicos - Capacitación en Línea​ (Scientific Writing-Spanish)
Este curso ofrece una visión general del proceso de redacción científica, la preparación de manuscritos y su revisión. El curso le guiará desde la determinación de cuándo y por qué preparar un manuscrito, hasta el proceso de revisión y envío.
General, Training and Professional Development, Infectious Diseases
Training
2024
HAI Module 2: Carbapenemase-producing Organisms Colonization Screening
Part of the "Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI): Colonization Screening for Healthcare Facilities" training series
Infectious Diseases, Antimicrobial Resistance
Training
2024
Environmental Laboratory Ethics: Then and Now
This course explains how environmental laboratories have changed over the last 50 years and how they have stayed the same. Provides an overview of basic environmental lab ethics including violations, decision making, data integrity and more..
Environmental Health, Environmental Monitoring, Environmental Exposures
Training
2024
Syphilis Diagnostics: RPR Manual Test Method
This module provides an overview of the intended use of RPR, testing procedures, interpretation, reporting and additional testing considerations.
Infectious Diseases, STIs
Training
2024
HAI Module 3: Candida auris Colonization Screening
Part of the "Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI): Colonization Screening for Healthcare Facilities" training series
Infectious Diseases, Antimicrobial Resistance
Training
2024
Scientific Writing: The Basics - Online Course (English)
This course covers an overview of the scientific writing process, manuscript preparation, and manuscript revision. The course will guide you from determining when and why to prepare a manuscript, through to the revision and submission process.
Infectious Diseases, General, Training and Professional Development
Training
2024
HAI Module 4: Packaging and Shipping for Colonization Screening​
Part of the "Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI): Colonization Screening for Healthcare Facilities" training series
Infectious Diseases, Antimicrobial Resistance
Training
2024
HAI Module 1: Overview and Importance of Screening for Multidrug-resistant Organisms (MDROs)
Part of the "Hospital Acquired Infections (HAI): Colonization Screening for Healthcare Facilities" training series
Infectious Diseases, Antimicrobial Resistance
Training
2024
Ethical Vigilance: Lessons for Environmental Laboratories and Beyond
An ethics training that can inform decision making in the laboratory and life. The training provides an overview of ethics topics specific to environmental laboratories and the broader, philosophical aspects of ethics that can inform decision-making.
Environmental Health, Environmental Exposures, Environmental Monitoring
Training
2024
Rédaction Scientifique: Les Fondamentaux​ - Formation en Ligne​ (Scientific Writing-French)
Ce cours offre une vue d'ensemble du processus de rédaction scientifique, de la préparation du manuscrit et de sa révision.
General, Training and Professional Development, Infectious Diseases
Training
2024
Biosecurity Exercises Toolkit for Public Health and Clinical Diagnostic Laboratories
Laboratories can use this toolkit to enhance biosecurity measurers within their facilities, strengthen existing biosecurity protocols or establish new ones. Includes biosecurity exercise examples and evaluation forms.
Public Health Preparedness and Response
Training
2023
COOP Tabletop Exercises for Public Health Laboratories
This evaluation report describes the data gathered during a 2021 collaboration between APHL and the RAND Corporation to develop and conduct tabletop exercises to help public health laboratories evaluate their continuity of operations planning.
Public Health Preparedness and Response, Emergency Preparedness and Response
Training
2023
COOP Tabletop Exercise for PHLs PowerPoint
This is a PowerPoint template of tabletop exercises for public health laboratories to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of their continuity of operations planning and provide feedback for improvements.
Public Health Preparedness and Response, Emergency Preparedness and Response
Training
2021
Working Together to Improve Citizen Science Data Quality: A Webinar for Government Agencies
This webinar highlights successful state/federal agency-citizen science group collaboration and quality assurance resources to support these efforts.​
Environmental Health, Environmental Monitoring
Training
2021
Make Your Citizen Science Project Count: Strategies to Produce Quality Data​ (Webinar)​
This webinar explores how citizen science groups have successfully integrated quality assurance approaches into their projects to help answer their community’s environmental and public health questions.
Environmental Health, Environmental Monitoring
Training
2020
Maintaining Data with Integrity Course
Defines integrity and the importance of data integrity in environmental and public health laboratories. Outlines the necessary elements to ensure data integrity from the first sample collected to reporting results.
Environmental Health, Environmental Exposures, Environmental Monitoring, Data Management
Training
2020
Manipulation des Spécimens Module 3: Comprendre la gestion des données de laboratoire
Part of the "Clinical Specimen Handling and Tracking" training series (Francais)
Infectious Diseases, Specimen Handling, Data Management
Training
2020
MicrobeNet Training
Learn to identify pathogens using MicrobeNet with this ondemand training course.
Infectious Diseases
Training
2020
Specimen Handling Module 2: Proper Clinical Specimen Receiving and Accessioning
Part of the "Clinical Specimen Handling and Tracking" training series (English)
Infectious Diseases, Specimen Handling
Training
2020
Specimen Handling Module 1: Proper Specimen Labeling and Packaging for Clinical Diagnosis
Part of the "Clinical Specimen Handling and Tracking" training series (English)
Infectious Diseases, Specimen Handling
Training
2020
Specimen Handling Module 3: Understanding Laboratory Data Management
Part of the "Clinical Specimen Handling and Tracking" training series (English)
Infectious Diseases, Specimen Handling, Data Management
Training
2020
Manipulation des Spécimens Module 1: Étiquetage et emballage appropriés des échantillons pour le diagnostic clinique
Part of the "Clinical Specimen Handling and Tracking" training series (Francais)
Infectious Diseases, Specimen Handling
Training
2020
Manipulation des Spécimens Module 2: Réception et enregistrement appropriés des échantillons cliniques
Part of the "Clinical Specimen Handling and Tracking" training series (Francais)
Infectious Diseases, Specimen Handling, Data Management
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Join Us

Upcoming Events

APHL sponsors major conferences on newborn screening, infectious diseases, food safety and more, as well as smaller meetings and webinars.

View our Event Calendar

Jul
21
2026
APHL Quarterly Networking Event
Virtual
The APHL Quarterly Networking Event provides public health laboratory professionals from state, federal, local and non-governmental organizations with opportunities to expand their professional networks and strengthen networking skills.
Sep
01
2026
LRN-B Technical Meeting
San Antonio, TX
The Laboratory Response Network for Biological Threats (LRN-B) Technical Meeting is a combination of science, policy, networking and partnerships with a focus on innovation, technologies and strengthening relationships within the network.
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our goal:
Bringing together the institution & the individual
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