Microbiology Laboratory

The Public Health Microbiology Lab identifies single cell organisms that have a great impact on public health.

The laboratory provides a wide range of microbiological activities including testing specimens for:

• The identification of microorganisms which may lead to communicable disease outbreaks.

Examples: E.coli 0157, Salmonella, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Shigella.

• Diseases of public health significance which are too rare or unusual
• to be identified by other laboratories.
• Diseases which are prevalent in populations traditionally unwilling
• to approach private medicine.
• Agents that may be used in a bioterrorism event.

Laboratory results are rapidly reviewed by epidemiologists, infectious disease specialists and other public health decision makers.

The laboratory also serves as the State Reference Laboratory for antimicrobial susceptibility testing of communicable disease organisms, and supplies the CDC with isolates from infections with vaccine-preventable organisms.

The laboratory maintains a close relationship with the CDC by participating in CDC-headed projects and sending specimens to the CDC for confirmatory testing when necessary.

Additional Resources:

• Healthcare Professional Information 
• Laboratory Fees
• Information for Healthcare Professionals:
  • Rectal, pharyngeal and vaginal specimens now being accepted for Chlamydia trachomatis & Neisseria gonorrhoeae testing
  • Collection of Rectal and Pharyngeal Specimens for CT/GC APTIMA Testing
  • Infertility Prevention Program: Online tutorial for properly completing test requisition 270-71 specimen rejection and acceptable and unacceptable specimens