MICROBIOLOGY TESTING PROGRAM
Microbiology Supervisor
Jim Walford
Phone: 307-777-7431
FAX: 307-777-6422
The Microbiology Section of the Wyoming Public Health Laboratory (WPHL) is comprised of specialized laboratory areas. These laboratories are dedicated to provide testing services to the state of Wyoming & its citizens to identify, track, control and prevent infectious diseases.
It is the responsibility of Clinical Laboratories to report occurances of infectious diseases according to the Reportable Diseases List. To report, use the Confidential Disease Report form and mail or Fax to the Infectious Disease Epidemiology Section as indicated on the form.
Depending on the laboratory test and specimen to collect, Specimen Collection Supplies are available from the WPHL. To order supplies print a copy of the Supply Order Form and follow the instructions on the form. When submitting specimens some special considerations should be noted, please see Miscellaneous Notes and Comments.
Microbiology Testing Laboratories and Related Programs
All Hazards Response Program
Bacteriology Laboratory
Antimicrobial Susceptibility
Parasitology Testing
Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratory
Food-borne disease investigation
Salmonella Serotyping
Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE)
Immunology Laboratory (Hepatitis and HIV)
NAAT For Chlamydia and Neisseria Gonorrhoeae Testing
Mycobacteriology (TB) Laboratory
TB Genotyping
Mycology Testing
Serology Laboratory
Strep Throat Program
Water Testing Laboratory
Local, Regional and National Affiliations
Associations with state agencies, county & city groups and national professional entities ensures that citizens of Wyoming receive state-of-the-art testing services from the Microbiology laboratories. The list of these cooperative associations is long and includes: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), WY City/County Health Departments, health care providers, and laboratories, Schools, Coroners, EPA, DEQ, and state labs such as the State Veterinary Lab and Game & Fish Lab.
State Programs Served
Microbiology laboratories provide support to numerous department of health state programs. HIV/Aids & Hepatitis, Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Tuberculosis, Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Public Health Nursing, Immunization, Maternal & Child Health, West Nile Virus and Influenza programs are just a few.
Services Provided
Working with many of the department of health programs and various state and regional groups the Microbiology laboratories perform testing associated with a variety of public health situations including:
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Infectious disease outbreak testing
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Drinking water safety testing
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Reference testing for local clinical laboratories
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Strep testing for public schools
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Testing for the immune status of childhood immunizations and other vaccine preventable diseases
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Analysis for classification and identification of food borne illness such as Salmonella
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Testing that aids in the tracking of communicable diseases through antimicrobial susceptibility testing, DNA Sequencing, and DNA fingerprinting (Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis) of infectious agents.
Recent Research Studies
The Microbiology laboratories participate in numerous research studies including those looking at the safety of hot springs, the evaluation of quality of specimens for diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases, the extent of regional West Nile virus infection, the presence of Salmonella in pets, and the prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases in women of childbearing age.