Published on New York State Department of Health, Wadsworth Center (https://wadsworth.org)

Infectious Diseases

The Infectious Diseases Laboratories are involved in advanced diagnostic testing and reference services, education, comprehensive outbreak analysis efforts, and externally funded basic and applied scientific research on diseases of public health importance. Several laboratories perform research and testing in high containment BSL-3 laboratories as well as the unique insectary facility. Our laboratories cover:

  • Arbovirology | Performs surveillance testing on mosquitoes, birds and mammals submitted from across the state, as well as confirmatory clinical serology on human sera
  • Biodefense | Performs testing on clinical and environmental samples for biothreat agents and is actively involved in training first responders and clinical laboratorians
  • Bloodborne Viruses | Focuses on clinical and public health laboratory activities related to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV)
  • Cellular Immunology | Laboratories that analyze the function and/or the phenotype of white blood cells (lymphocytes/leukocytes) comprising the immune system are surveyed and permitted through the Clinical Laboratory Evaluation Program (CLEP)
  • Diagnostic Immunology | Performs serologic assays for the detection of patient antibody responses to bacteria, parasites and viruses
  • Rabies | Provides New York State with rabies-related laboratory services on animals and humans
  • Microbiology - the Bacteriology,  Mycobacteriology, Mycology, Parasitology, and Virology Labs | Identify infectious agents of clinical and public health significance, provide laboratory support of outbreak investigations and utilize applied research to improve methods of detecting and characterizing infectious agents.
  • Laboratory Response Network | The Laboratory Response Network (LRN) is a consortium of local, state and federal public health, clinical, food testing, veterinary, and environmental testing laboratories intended to provide a coordinated and immediate response to biological and chemical terrorism, emerging infectious diseases, and other public health emergencies.

Laboratory Reporting Guidelines for Communicable Disease

Related Links

Clinical Laboratory Permits

Training & Education

Wadsworth Center is training the next generation of scientists through affiliated graduate programs[13] and the Wadsworth Center Fellowship Program[14], APHL/CDC Fellowships[15],  and the NIH Biodefense & Emerging Infectious Diseases Training Program[16].

Research Areas[17]