Public health laboratories (PHLs) are governmental reference laboratories that protect the public against diseases and other health hazards. The 2005 International Health Regulations came into force in June 2007, with 196 binding countries that recognised that certain public health incidents, extending beyond disease, ought to be designated as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), as they pose a significant global threat. The PHLs serve as national hazard detection centres, and forward these concerns to the

World Health Organization The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution states its main objective as "the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level o ...

International accreditation

In 2007, Haim Hacham ''et al.'' published a paper addressing the need for and the process of international standardised accreditation for laboratory proficiency in Israel. With similar efforts, both the Japan Accreditation Board for Conformity Assessment (JAB) and the European Communities Confederation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EC4) have validated and convened ISO 15189 Medical laboratories — Requirements for quality and competence, respectively. In 2006, Spitzenberger and Edelhäuser expressed concerns that ISO accreditation may include obstacles arising from new emerging medical devices and the new approach of assessment; in so doing, they indicate the time dependence of standards.

Africa

WHO-Afro HIV/AIDS Laboratory Network

East African Laboratory Network

African Society for Laboratory Medicine

Canada

Europe

* European Union Reference Laboratories cf. Commission Regulation (EC) No 776/2006 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 882/2004
EpiSouth Network

United Kingdom

The Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) was established as part of the

National Health Service The National Health Service (NHS) is the umbrella term for the publicly funded healthcare systems of the United Kingdom (UK). Since 1948, they have been funded out of general taxation. There are three systems which are referred to using the " ...

in 1946. An Emergency Public Health Laboratory Service was established in 1940 as a response to the threat of bacteriological warfare. There was originally a central laboratory at

Colindale Colindale is a district in the London Borough of Barnet; its main shopping street on the A5 forming the borough boundary with neighbouring Brent. Colindale is a suburban area, and in recent years has had many new apartments built. It's also th ...

and a network of regional and local laboratories. By 1955 there were about 1000 staff. These laboratories were primarily preventive with an

epidemiological Epidemiology is the study and analysis of the distribution (who, when, and where), patterns and determinants of health and disease conditions in a defined population. It is a cornerstone of public health, and shapes policy decisions and evid ...

focus. They were, however, in some places located with hospital laboratories which had a diagnostic focus. The PHLS was replaced by the Health Protection Agency in 2003; the HPA was disbanded and in its stead was constituted the

UK Health Security Agency The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is a government agency in the United Kingdom, responsible since April 2021 for England-wide public health protection and infectious disease capability, and replacing Public Health England. It is an execut ...

in 2021.

United States

United States laboratory networks and organizations
Association of Public Health Laboratories

Laboratory Response Network (CDC)

PulseNet (CDC)

Integrated Consortium of Laboratory Networks

Food Emergency Response Network

Environmental Laboratory Response Network

Council to Improve Foodborne Outbreak Response

Other international laboratory networks

WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System

WHO H5 Reference Laboratories

WHO Emerging and Dangerous Pathogens Laboratory Network

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Public Health Laboratory Clinical pathology Laboratory types Public health organizations Public health emergencies of international concern