Position Statements
Position statements are APHL’s highest form of advocacy because they represent the view of the majority of our members on issues impacting public health laboratory practice and policy. They provide background information, a clear stance and recommendations to achieve the desired goal.
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Your Voice Elevated
How Our Position Statements are Created
APHL committee members take a clear stance on an issue and write a statement. All members are invited to suggest revisions to the draft, which are carefully evaluated. The final version is presented to the APHL Board of Directors. Once approved by the Board, laboratory directors vote for implementation and then the committee spends the next three to five years working to achieve their goal.
our postion statements:
Biosafety
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Improving Biosafety in Our Nation's Laboratories
Sunsets June 2027APHL urges laboratories in the United States to enhance their biosafety practices by implementing routine risk assessments, identifying best practices and standardized training, developing consensus standards and guidelines, and improving reporting of exposure events.
Our Position Statements:
​Newborn Screening
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Uses of Residual Dried Blood Spot Specimens and Test Results
Sunsets November 2030Public health newborn screening programs should have appropriate policies for retention and use to allow for storage and use of residual dried blood spot specimens and test results for program activities without requiring parental consent.
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Linking Newborn Screening Programs with Vital Records
Sunsets July 2030To optimize newborn screening efforts, it is imperative that programs are integrated with vital records systems for an accurate assessment of screening coverage.
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Newborn Screening Short Term Follow-up
Sunsets June 2028Timely, efficient and integrated short term follow-up programs are a critical and necessary component of a successful newborn screening system.
Our Position Statements:
Public Health Preparedness and Response
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Increased PHL Funding Required for Sustainable All-hazard Preparedness and Response
Sunsets September 2028It is essential to our nation’s preparedness that public health laboratories (PHLs) receive increased funding to recruit and retain highly trained technical staff, purchase and maintain sophisticated instrumentation and modernize the facilities necessary to respond to all-hazard threats quickly and reliably at any time.
Our Position Statements:
Quality Laboratory Practices
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Rescind CMS' Nursing Degree Equivalency for Moderate/High-complexity Laboratory Testing
Sunsets June 2028The US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) should immediately rescind its directive that an associate's or bachelor's degree in nursing is equivalent to an associate's or bachelor's degree in a biological science for a moderate and high-complexity laboratory.