Public Health Laboratory Services
- Screen 97% of babies born in the United States for metabolic and genetic disorders.
- Monitor communities for pathogens that spread in food or through contact with people or animals.
- Perform almost all testing to detect and monitor newly emerging infectious diseases like West Nile virus, SARS and Avian Influenza.
- Test drinking and some recreational water for bacteria, parasites, pesticides and other harmful substances.
- Identify suspect agents, as in 2001 when public health laboratories tested over 1,200 specimens a day during the 2001 anthrax attacks, ultimately conducting over one million laboratory analyses.
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