National Laboratory System
Initiative to Integrate Clinical Laboratories into Public Health testing
Overview
The Initiative to Integrate Clinical Laboratories into Public Health Testing, led by the Montana Public Health Laboratory, is a collaborative four-state project that includes the participation of the Public Health Laboratories of North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. The primary goal of the Initiative is to enhance testing and reporting practices of antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) from rural clinical laboratories and laboratories providing services for the Native American populations in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
A number of compelling factors shaped the focus of this proposal. A 2006 survey of clinical laboratories in Montana identified significant gaps in knowledge of and adherence to guidelines for AST practices between “urban, large capacity” laboratories and “rural, smaller capacity” laboratories. Public health-related testing and reporting of STDs in our Native American populations is also a concern, as rates of STDs are higher in this population despite intervention efforts. The Initiative chose a regional approach since MT, ND, SD and WY share similar demographic chararcteristics which contribute to common challenges facing our rural clinical laboratories. Providing educational opportunities to this large, sparsely populated geographic area is a challenge, as many rural laboratories do not have the staffing or resources to attend off-site workshops and seminars.
The objectives for and activities funded by this initiative will increase the knowledge base of clinical laboratory professionals while improving their ability to conduct public health-related testing and reporting in these frontier states. This improved capacity will be critical as we work toward a National Laboratory System.
Any questions may be directed to:
Debbie Gibson, National Laboratory System Program Manager
406-444-5970
