Focus Areas

We work to advance public health testing and surveillance systems, both in the US and globally. To do this, we develop, support and promote a variety of initiatives related to high-priority topics, or what we call focus areas.

About Our Focus Areas

Focus Areas Include:
- What We Do
  
  Environmental Health Overview
  
  Environmental Health Resources
  
  Environmental Monitoring
  
  Environmental Monitoring
  
  Wastewater Surveillance
  
  Assessing Human Exposures
  
  Overdose Biosurveillance
  
  Biomonitoring
  
  National Biomonitoring Network
  
  Readiness and Response
  
  Readiness and Response Overview
  
  Laboratory Response Network for Chemical Threats
  
  Environmental Microbiology Outbreak Response
  
  Radiochemistry
  
  Cannabis
  
  Cannabis Testing
- What We Do
  
  Food Safety Overview
  
  Food Safety Resources
  
  Foodborne Disease
  
  Council to Improve Foodborne Outbreak Response
  
  Culture-independent Diagnostics
  
  Food Testing
  
  Human and Animal Food Testing Overview
  
  HAF Laboratory Curriculum Framework
  
  HAF Laboratory Resources
  
  Networks
  
  CaliciNet
  
  GenomeTrakr
  
  PulseNet
- Technical Capabilities
  
  Global Health Capabilities
  
  Training and Professional Development
  
  Global Health Laboratory Data Systems
  
  Global Health Sequencing, Bioinformatics and Genomic Epidemiology
  
  Global Health Resources
  
  Global Health Resources
  
  Global Consulting Opportunities
  
  PulseNet International
- What We Do
  
  Infectious Diseases Overview
  
  Infectious Diseases Resources
  
  Cross-cutting Work
  
  Advanced Molecular Detection
  
  Antimicrobial Resistance
  
  Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity Program
  
  Shipping Support
  
  Major Areas of Work
  
  HIV
  
  Respiratory Diseases
  
  Sexually Transmitted Infections
  
  Tuberculosis
  
  Vaccine Preventable Diseases
  
  Vector-borne Diseases
  
  Viral Hepatitis
  
  Additional Focus Areas
  
  Ebola
  
  Rabies
- What We Do
  
  Informatics Overview
  
  Your Informatics Support
  
  Informatics Policy and Partnerships
  
  Informatics Resources
  
  Informatics Technical Assistance
  
  Electronic Lab Reporting Technical Assistance
  
  AIMS
  
  AIMS Overview
  
  Public Health Informatics Initiatives
  
  Electronic Test Orders and Results
  
  Global Antimicrobial Resistance Informatics Initiatives
  
  Infectious Diseases Messaging
  
  National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System
  
  Public Health Reporting Systems
  
  Detor
  
  Electronic Case Reporting
  
  Electronic Laboratory Reporting
  
  Genomic Systems
  
  IZ Gateway
  
  Lab Web Portal
  
  Quest Diagnostics
- What We Do
  
  Newborn Screening and Genetics Overview
  
  Resources, Trainings and Events
  
  Legal and Legislative Issues
  
  Screening Topics
  
  Hemoglobinopathies
  
  Molecular Screening Resources
  
  Quality Assurance
  
  Technical Support
  
  Technical Assistance
  
  NewSTEPs Data Repository and Resource Library
- What We Do
  
  Preparedness and Response Overview
  
  Planning and Training Resources
  
  Emergency Response Resources
  
  PHPR Components
  
  Readiness and Response
  
  Biosafety and Biosecurity
  
  Laboratory Response Network
  
  Clinical Laboratory Partnerships
  
  Laboratory Resource Exchange
  
  Public Health Response Coordination
- What We Do
  
  Quality Systems and Analytics Overview
  
  Quality and Safety Systems
  
  Quality and Safety Systems Overview
  
  Regional Consortia
  
  Healthy People
  
  CLIA Resources
  
  Knowledge Management
  
  Knowledge Management Overview
  
  Analytics
  
  Monitoring and Evaluation
  
  Public Health Laboratory Studies
  
  Data Science
  
  Artificial Intelligence
Training & Professional Development

APHL has a wide array of options to support the growth and development of public health laboratory scientists. Our training and educational options offer an opportunity to build or refine technical skills and earn contact hours. Our career development programs help individuals grow professionally, while our workforce resources provide leaders with population-level data on our community and provide guidance on recruitment and retention strategies.

Explore Professional Development Opportunities
- Training
  
  Training Hub
  
  APHL Learning Center
  
  Competencies
  
  Board Exam Boot Camp
- Workforce Development
  
  Building and Supporting Your Workforce
  
  Academic Partnerships
  
  Post a Laboratory Job
- Career Development
  
  Internships
  
  Fellowships
  
  Mentorships
  
  Leadership Development
  
  Public Health Laboratory Ambassadors
  
  Find a Job
- APHL Training and Workforce Programs
  
  Laboratory Training
  
  Career Pathways in Public Health Laboratory Science
Events & Communities

Whether you’re looking for the latest in educational materials or simply to network with other industry leaders, APHL has what you’re looking for. We offer a variety of ways for you to connect with other laboratory professionals, including events, communities, committees and more.

Upcoming Events and Webinars
- Attend an Event
  
  About APHL Events
  
  Presenter Resource Center
- Engage With a Committee
  
  APHL Committees
  
  APHL Board of Directors
  
  Join a Committee
- Join the Community
  
  ColLABorate Communities
  
  Training Partner Community Connection
  
  More Ways to Get Involved
Advocacy & Policy

APHL is your representative, safeguarding public health through advocacy for public health laboratories and federal partners, and providing expert testimony, guidance and comments on federal legislation and regulations.
APHL Publications

APHL is proud to keep our members up to date on the latest developments in the industry. We highlight key initiatives, topics and data across a variety of formats: we tell the stories of public health laboratories through our magazine, Lab Matters, and our blog, Lab Culture News, guide and inform laboratory work with our technical resources, and keep you informed of it all with our newsletters.

About APHL Publications
- Our Stories
  
  Lab Matters Magazine
  
  Lab Culture News
  
  APHL Annual Report
- Our Technical Resources
  
  Technical Publications
  
  APHL Peer-reviewed Articles
- Newsletters
  
  Newsletter Hub
Resources

We provide a range of resources for public health laboratories and their staff. Search our collections of technical resources to facilitate your work, get updates and resources on public health emergencies to respond with confidence, and get support and insight to help your organization run smoothly.

Search the Resource Hub
- Collections
  
  Member-developed Resource Center
  
  Toolkits
- Emergency Response
  
  Emergency Response Resources
  
  Laboratory Resource Exchange
- Workforce Studies
  
  Workforce Profiles
  
  Salary Comparisons
  
  Training Needs Assessments
- For Organizations
  
  Consulting Services
  
  RFP & Funding Opportunities
  
  Public Health Laboratory Impact Tool
  
  Public Health Laboratory System Database
Membership

APHL welcomes members from state and local public health laboratories as well as environmental, chemical, agricultural and food safety labs. Companies, individuals and students also are encouraged to join!

Become a Member
- Our Members
  
  Our Laboratory Members
  
  Membership Questions
- Our Corporate Partners
  
  Our Sustaining Members
  
  Corporate Engagement Opportunities
  
  Corporate Leadership Council
- Member Recognition & Involvement
  
  Awards and Member Recognition
  
  Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month
  
  Engage With APHL

Issue Archive

Access more than 400 articles across 50+ issues, covering a range of topics for laboratory professionals, all for no cost.

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Recent Work:

2026 Issues

Spring 2026

Issue 1

Quality, Safety, Traceability: Protecting the Food Supply for US Consumers

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Supporting Laboratory Science

Strengthening Skills, Expanding careers

Training

Workforce Development

Career Development

APHL Training and Workforce Programs

Making a connection

Attend an Event

Engage With a Committee

Join the Community

Representing your laboratory

Providing information you need

Our Stories

Our Technical Resources

Newsletters

Resources

Collections

Emergency Response

Workforce Studies

For Organizations

Creating a community

Our Members

Our Corporate Partners

Member Recognition & Involvement

Focus Areas

Focus Areas Include:

Training & Professional Development