The Environmental Health Laboratories play a variety of vital emergency response roles:
The Diagnostic Immunology Laboratory (DIL) serves as the New York State public health reference laboratory performing serologic assays for the detection of patient antibody responses to bacteria, parasites, and viruses. A diverse array of techniques from classical to contemporary are employed.
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Accurate laboratory test results are essential to health assessment and disease or environmental exposure prevention. Wadsworth Center's quality and regulatory oversight programs assure the development and implementation of methods that provide accurate, reliable, reproducible test results from clinical specimens or samples collected from the environment. These programs include issuance of operating licenses to clinical laboratories, environmental testing laboratories and human tissue banks for transplantation and research.
Each year the Newborn Screening Program tests approximately 261,000 samples from nearly 225,000 newborns. Each sample is screened for 50 disorders.
Research
State-of-the-art diagnostic testing capabilities rely on the latest research findings and access to the latest technologies. This allows for the rapid application of novel concepts or emerging technologies to public health threats. Research conducted in the Biodefense Laboratory fosters collaboration with other scientists at Wadsworth Center and from institutions conducting related investigations, the primary goals of which are:
Valerie J. Bolivar, Ph.D.
Neurobehavioral Genetics
We examine the genetics of brain abnormalities and behavioral impairments associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. Our current focus is identifying genes involved in abnormal forebrain connectivity and autism-relevant behaviors in mice.
Acceptable Samples – Credibility Assessment
All environmental biothreat samples, collected appropriately and packaged by a certified individual, must be analyzed by a New York State Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (ELAP) accredited testing facility.
The ability to perform definitive testing for pathogens that cause human and animal disease is a critical public health function. Rapid, accurate and sensitive testing of clinical specimens, environmental specimens, food, and water samples provides a scientific foundation for an appropriate public health response and can reduce disease prevalence and transmission.
Acceptable specimens
Specimens tested in the Biodefense Laboratory include:
The Biodefense Laboratory’s primary focus is analysis of clinical and environmental samples for the presence of highly pathogenic organisms. The NYS DOH Wadsworth Center Biodefense Laboratory is:
- One of 14 Advanced Laboratory Response Network labs in the US capable of providing capacity for rapid response to biothreat events
- One of 12 labs in the US receiving FDA funding as a Food Defense Microbiology Laboratory
- USDA funded Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) laboratory
The Biodefense Laboratory: