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.

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 Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

(JAB) and the

European Communities Confederation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine European, or Europeans, or Europeneans, may refer to: In general * ''European'', an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to Europe ** Ethnic groups in Europe ** Demographics of Europe ** European cuisine, the cuisines of Europe a ...

(EC4) have validated and convened

ISO 15189 Medical laboratories — Requirements for quality and competence ISO is the most common abbreviation for the International Organization for Standardization. ISO or Iso may also refer to: Business and finance * Iso (supermarket), a chain of Danish supermarkets incorporated into the SuperBest chain in 2007 * Iso ...

, 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 European, or Europeans, or Europeneans, may refer to: In general * ''European'', an adjective referring to something of, from, or related to Europe ** Ethnic groups in Europe ** Demographics of Europe ** European cuisine, the cuisines of Europe a ...

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