Public Health & Environmental Laboratories

 Isolation and Antigen Detection Unit:

• Provides laboratory services for the isolation and identification of viruses of public health significance.
• Provides laboratory surveillance data and strain characterization information on influenza to departmental programs, Centers for Disease Control, and the World Health Organization.
• Provides nucleic acid and antigen detection testing to detect viral agents (including rabies) and Chlamydia trachomatis.
• Provides consultative and reference laboratory services to departmental programs, other governmental agencies, private physicians, and laboratories.

Viral Serology Unit:

• Performs or assists in providing serological tests to demonstrate the presence of antibodies to viral and chlamydial agents of public health significance including HIV, Hepatitis B, measles, rubella, and dengue.
• Provides consultation and reference laboratory services to other governmental agencies, private physicians and institutions in areas unique to viral serologies.
• Provides laboratory support for epidemiologically based serosurveys of the State’s population to determine the presence and effect of viral, rickettsial or chlamydial agents.

Specimen Requirements for:

• 2019-nCoV Real-Time RT-PCR (SARS-CoV-2/COVID19)
• Dengue Serology
• Dengue PCR
• Chlamydia Trachomatis / Neisseria Gonorrhoeae
• Respiratory Viruses
• Viral Culture

Specimen Requisition Form:

• Instructions for Collection of Specimens for Identification of Influenza and Other Viral Respiratory Agents
• Influenza Specimen Submission Form