Public Health Laboratories
The Public Health Laboratories are responsible for protecting the public's health in NH through responsive, unbiased, quality laboratory testing.

Alert!
Alert!
New COVID-19 Specimen Receipt Acceptance Criteria starting September 1, 2022 – read the Acceptance Criteria
The mission of the Public Health Laboratories (PHL) is to protect the public's health in NH through responsive, unbiased, quality laboratory testing; to actively participate in national and international surveillance networks; and to improve the quality of health and laboratory services in both the public and private sector.
PHL fulfills its mission through these four core functions:
Laboratory Response for Critical Incidents
- Disease outbreaks
- Newly emergent diseases
- Product contamination and/or tampering
- Terrorism response
Laboratory Analysis for Food Safety Assurance
- Microbiological testing of dairy products, shellfish and growing waters, and other food products
- Paralytic shellfish poison (Red Tide) testing
- Testing for lead and other metals in maple syrup, fish and other food products
- Testing for mercury in fish
Laboratory Services for Infectious Disease Control
- Tuberculosis testing
- Sexually Transmitted Disease testing
- Vaccine Preventable Disease testing
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus screening, confirmation and viral load
- Bacterial, parasitic, and viral identification
- Drug susceptibility testing
- Rabies testing
Quality Assurance Leadership
- Reference lab services for hospital and independent labs in NH
- Training, internships and technology transfer for laboratorians
- Laboratory tours, demonstrations, science fairs and lectures
- Coordination of NH Laboratory Response Network
- The PHL has federal oversight by CLIA, TNI, FDA, USDA, and ISO
For comments, concerns, or for more laboratory information email the Public Health Laboratory:
Laboratory Programs
See the PJLA accreditation certificate