Public Health Laboratory

Mission statement: "Providing quality laboratory services to protect community health and prevent the spread of disease."

For more information contact us by phone at 619-692-8500 or email at phslaboratory.hhsa@sdcounty.ca.gov.

San Diego Public Health Lab Test Requisition Form (8/23/18)

San Diego County Rabies Requisition Form (11/15/18)

INFLUENZA 2018-2019

ZIKA TESTING

Zika Specimen Collection and Transport Guidelines
- Zika Guidance (9/15/17)
- Zika Guidance for Congenital Infections
Zika Testing Algorithm
- Zika Testing Algorithm
Interpretation of Results

NON-DIAGNOSTIC GENERAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT (NDGHA) Important Forms and Documents

NDGHA Registration Form
NDGHA Fee Schedule
NDGHA Change Notification Form
NDGHA Guidelines for Policy and Procedures Manual Preparation
NDGHA Event Permit Request Form

For information on state and local disease reporting requirements, click here for Disease Reporting Requirements for Laboratorians.

Facilities where this Service is offered:

Health Services Complex - Rosecrans

About the Public Health Laboratory

The Public Health Laboratory (PHL) works in conjunction with public health clinics, local hospitals and healthcare providers, and the departments of Epidemiology and Environmental Health. By analyzing clinical and environmental samples, the PHL participates in the core activities of surveillance, assessment and assurance.

Functions

I. Laboratory support for agency services

Clinic support: Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Tuberculosis, Anonymous and Confidential HIV Antibody Testing, Child Health & Youth Clinics
Clearance exams on food handlers, health care and day care workers with infectious diseases
Testing biting animals for rabies
Influenza surveillance (sentinel physicians, lab surveillance, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sentinel laboratory, World Health Organization's Collaborating Center for Influenza)
Testing for human mosquito-borne viral infections
Regulation of Non-Diagnostic General Health Assessment Programs (e.g. cholesterol and glucose testing in shopping malls)
Investigation of suspected communicable disease outbreaks (e.g. salmonella in foods, hepatitis, malaria, and measles)
Laboratory testing for the San Diego County Psychiatric Hospital
Investigation of suspected bioterrorism incidents
Molecular analysis of bacterial and viral pathogens
Screening children for lead poisoning
Statistical reports for assessing prevalence of diseases

II. Support for Other County Departments

Sexually transmitted disease and voluntary HIV testing for Sheriff's detention facilities
Court ordered HIV testing on jail inmates or suspects that have exposed others
Bacteriological testing of drinking water and coastal recreational waters for the Department of Environmental Health and other government agencies
Foodborne illness investigations for the Department of Environmental Health
Testing for the County Medical Examiner to assist in determining causes of death
Testing environmental samples for bioterrorism agents

III. Services provided to Community Clinics

Testing for sexually transmitted diseases
HIV antibody testing
HIV viral load testing

IV. Services provided to hospitals and laboratories

Identification of enteric pathogens
Serve as regional reference center for parasite identification
Confirmatory testing for syphilis
Identification of fungi, yeasts, parasites, and unusual bacteria
Identification of tuberculosis bacteria and drug susceptibility testing
Virus cultures
Molecular typing of bacteria
Assist in infection control (immune status testing, typing of drug-resistant bacteria)
Training of laboratory and infection control staff
Influenza surveillance in hospital emergency rooms
Rapid identification or rule out of bioterrorism agents

V. Services provided to private physicians

Tuberculosis testing for indigent patients
Virology services
Consultation
Influenza surveillance

VI. Services Provided to Support Academic Institutions

Present lectures and laboratory instruction at Palomar College, San Diego State University, and UC San Diego School of Medicine
Student career counseling
Supervise graduate students
Participate in joint research projects

VII. Community Outreach and Support

Present lectures and demonstrations for schools and community groups
Answer inquiries from the public

VIII. International Activities

Laboratory testing for U.S.-Mexico Binational disease surveillance and control projects
Training of laboratory workers from Mexican border communities
Partnership with Laboratorio Central, Ministry of Health, Honduras
Presentation of lectures and workshops to laboratory and other healthcare professionals

Laboratory Overview

A description of Services and Staffing.

The Public Health Laboratory is comprised of 5 major sections:

Virology and Serology
Microbiology
Molecular Biology
Laboratory Support
Office/ Administration/ Quality Assurance

Workload: Over 100,000 exams performed annually

Approval and Certification

Approved as a Public Health Laboratory by the State of California
Certified as an Environmental Laboratory by the State of California
Certified as a Clinical Laboratory by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Laboratory Staffing

The Public Health Laboratory is staffed by State certified Public Health Microbiologists. Requirements include a bachelor's degree in Microbiology or a related field. There is a six-month training period, followed by State certification examination. Contact Laboratory Field Services at the website link for specific application requirements. For career information and academic requirements, see 'Career Info' on the California Association of Public Health Laboratory Directors website link.

Laboratory Web Links

Related Links: