The Wadsworth Center Nuclear Chemistry Laboratory (NCL) hosted laboratory professionals from Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Vermont from April 27-29, 2026, through the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) peer-to-peer exchange program. The APHL exchange program is designed to strengthen the nation’s radiochemistry laboratory network by providing state and local laboratory professionals with opportunities to engage in hands-on technical training and knowledge exchange with peers from leading public health laboratories across the country.
The three-day training was developed and led by NCL scientific staff and incorporated material from two graduate-level radiochemistry courses taught through the University at Albany Department of Environmental Health Sciences, College of Integrated Health Sciences reflecting the longstanding partnership between the Wadsworth Center and the University at Albany in advancing workforce development, applied laboratory science, and public health education.
The training combined classroom instruction with practical laboratory exercises focused on advanced radiochemical methods and instrumentation. Participants received lectures covering the theory, methodology, and applications of alpha spectrometry, including discussions on sample preparation, radiochemical separations, detector operation, quality assurance, and data interpretation. Hands-on laboratory sessions provided trainees with experience conducting radiochemical analysis of strontium in milk, an important capability for environmental monitoring and emergency response preparedness. Additional sessions focused on the instrumentation, analytical techniques, and software used for isotopic uranium analysis, allowing participants to gain direct experience with technologies used in public health and environmental radiochemistry laboratories.
The exchange program also provided opportunities for participating laboratories to discuss shared technical challenges, laboratory operations, quality systems, and approaches to strengthening radiological preparedness capacity at the state level. Through collaborative discussions and direct interaction with Wadsworth Center staff, participants were able to exchange best practices and build professional relationships that support ongoing collaboration among public health laboratories nationwide.
Feedback from trainees was highly positive, with participants highlighting the interactive structure of the training, the expertise and clear communication of NCL staff, and the practical value of the materials and laboratory exercises. Participants noted that the training would directly support efforts to expand or strengthen radiochemistry testing capabilities within their home laboratories. The successful training further demonstrated the Wadsworth Center’s continued national leadership in public health laboratory science, workforce development, and radiological preparedness.