Lab Matters Summer 2025 | Page 47

to protect the laboratories and the public;

• Improve detection time by procuring modern technologies such as real-time detection equipment and automated platforms;

• Procure maintenance contracts to ensure equipment in the laboratory is functioning;

• Modernize facilities to ensure safe laboratory operations;

• Update outdated messaging systems and transition to electronic laboratory reporting of results;

• Provide training on scientific methods, biosafety, quality and other laboratory topics;

• Implement contracts with key service providers such as courier services;

• Strengthen knowledge, skills and abilities of staff by supporting participation in national conferences and other appropriate training opportunities

APHL works closely with CDC, other public and private partners and public health laboratories to provide opportunities to further strengthen the laboratory workforce. Examples of these initiatives include:

• Public Health Laboratory Fellowship and Internship Programs: designed to encourage graduates to enter the public sector and build a rewarding career in laboratory science. To continue to strengthen the preparedness and response workforce, APHL implemented a new fellowship track focused on Emergency Preparedness and Response.

• LRN-B Coordinator Peer Network Program: a new three-to-five day immersive peer-to-peer approach to support biothreat preparedness coordinators with addressing specific knowledge and training needs such as standard operating procedures for detecting biological threats, outreach to sentinel clinical laboratories, proficiency or challenge testing and operations of an LRN-B Reference Laboratory. Contact APHL at emergency. preparedness @ aphl. org.

• Emergency Preparedness and Response Leadership Workshops and Trainings: APHL in partnership with CDC convene several training opportunities which are designed to strengthen the knowledge, skills and abilities of the PHL workforce.

Collectively, the CDC PHEP Cooperative Agreement and other federal support have strengthened and continue to strengthen the nation’ s ability to effectively respond to all public health threats, including terrorism, natural disasters such as hurricanes, infectious diseases, and other emerging threats. When federal funding is scarce, the impact is felt across the US. Providing funding to CDC programs such as the PHEP Cooperative Agreement is an investment in protecting the public’ s health in every corner of the nation.

For more information on APHL’ s work in public health preparedness and response, visit: Public Health Preparedness & Response or contact us at: emergency. preparedness @ aphl. org. g

rely on each other, we email [ questions and resources ] back and forth quite often.”

Enhancing Efficiencies, Capacity and Quality

Learning about operating procedures, policies and methodologies in other laboratories was another major outcome of the program. Over two-thirds of responses mentioned how gathering best practices, specific resources and workflows could enhance efficiencies, capacity, quality and safety in their own laboratory.

One participant had been working in her public health laboratory for eight years but had never been able to tour any other public health laboratory. She described how the experience broadened her perspective.

“ It was really interesting to see the variation in compliance, and how we are both complying in different ways,” noting that she continues to work with her host laboratory to exchange documents and ideas. One example she gave was a pre-audit readiness checklist,“ When I saw this checklist, I thought it was awesome. We tailored it to our laboratory and the systems we use, this was very valuable, and [ other ] teams echoed the same sentiment; it has been beneficial all around.”

Bernard spoke on how a significant impact of the trip was learning about his host laboratory’ s courier practices, tracking mechanisms and specimen accountability.

“ Leadership at [ my laboratory ] was extremely happy with the outcome and supportive of process improvement and testing to see if it worked.” When asked if there were any barriers to implementing any of the practices learned from Iowa State Hygienic Laboratory, he noted,“ If anything [ The Peer-to-Peer Learning Trip ] took barriers away from us.”

A Worthwhile Experience

This highly worthwhile program experience, coupled with the fact that all participants were able to develop skills collaboratively, makes this experience invaluable to public health laboratory professionals and their laboratories.

One participant summed up the experience:“ During these peer-to-peer trips, you learn a thousand times more than just a video or webinar … [ the trip ] was really, really, really productive, I cannot imagine anything substituting for that.” g