member spotlight
Carol Hannah processing TB specimens
Virtually all of the laboratory’s services are performed on behalf
of other county programs, including over 40 ambulatory clinics
located throughout the jurisdiction.
Ventura County Public Health Laboratory Director Denise Von Bargen
Success Stories
• When measles was detected in California in 2014—and eventually
linked to Disneyland—the Ventura County laboratory performed measles
testing “every single day for three months,” ultimately testing more
specimens than any other laboratory, except the county laboratory that
serves the Disneyland area. Two years before the outbreak, Von Bargen,
then a bench scientist, trained at the state public health laboratory and
implemented the testing protocol in Ventura County. She said, “The cost
of waiting even an extra day or two for [measles] test results would have
led to more infections.”
• In August 2015, the laboratory identified norovirus as the agent responsible
for an outbreak that affected over 100 customers and employees of a Simi
Valley Chipotle restaurant.
• The laboratory participated in a multi-year study to improve water quality
testing in the Ventura County watershed, coordinated by the Southern
California Coastal Water Research Project. Since water is such a critical issue
in this drought-stricken state, laboratory data were crucial to inform state
water policy.
Salvador Barragan prepares ocean water samples for testing
• In June 2014, the Ventura County Health Care Agency became the first
health department in The Golden State to achieve accreditation through the
nonprofit Public Health Accreditation Board.
Challenges
With a modern facility and strong administrative support for the laboratory, Von
Bargen cited only two current challenges. First, she said, “We have a hard time
finding microbiologists. We’ve had to resort to training them, because we can’t
find them, despite our good weather.” Second is difficulty buying new laboratory
equipment: “It’s very expensive.”
Goals
• Fully implementing the laboratory information system (LIS). In 2013
the laboratory switched from the Meditech to the Cerner LIS because of
its reported ease-of-use with high-volume instrumentation. However,
connecting the LIS to the instruments has been a challenge. “I’d like to get it
done,” said Von Bargen.
• Transitioning to molecular beach water testing to enable same-day results
reporting and beach postings, if necessary. The laboratory is in the process
of inter-calibration with partner public health laboratories to assess the use
of quantitative PCR using human fecal markers.
• Bringing onboard the CDC Zika MAC-ELISA for IgM antibody capture.
Cameron Chandler processing blood for HIV testing
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Fall 2016 LAB MATTERS
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