APHL position statements articulate the informed opinion of members on issues affecting public health laboratory practice and policy.
Biosafety
Improving Biosafety in Our Nation's Laboratories: Sunsets June 2027
APHL urges laboratories in the United States to
enhance their biosafety practices by implementing
routine risk assessments, identifying best practices
and standardized training, developing consensus
standards and guidelines, and improving reporting of
exposure events.
Environmental Health
Biomonitoring: Sunsets February 2026
Population based biomonitoring is a fundamental public health practice that should be in every state.
State Laboratories Should be the Principal Drinking Water Laboratories: Sunsets March 2024
APHL urges states (inclusive of commonwealths and territories) to continue designating state laboratories as their principal drinking water laboratory under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Newborn Screening
Newborn Screening Contingency Planning: Sunsets December 2022
APHL recommends that all state newborn screening systems maintain and update a Continuity of Operations Plan that ensures minimal or no interruption of services.
Newborn Screening Short Term Follow-Up: Sunsets June 2028
Timely, efficient and integrated short term follow-up programs are a critical and necessary component of a successful newborn screening system.
Public Health Preparedness and Response
All-Hazard Preparedness and Response is Not Sustainable Without Increased Funding for Public Health Laboratories: Sunsets September 2028
It is essential to our nation’s preparedness that PHLs receive increased funding to recruit and retain highly trained technical staff, purchase and maintain sophisticated instrumentation and modernize the facilities necessary to respond to all-hazard threats quickly and reliably at any time.
Field Screening Kits and Devices Must Work: Sunset November 2023
APHL opposes the use of federally unapproved field-screening kits and devices used to detect biological and chemical warfare agents.
Quality Laboratory Practices
Regulation of Laboratory Developed Tests: Sunsets February 2026
Inflexible oversight of laboratory developed tests would adversely impact public health.
Rescind CMS' Nursing Degree Equivalency Determination for Moderate and High-complexity Laboratory Testing: Sunsets June 2028
The US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) should immediately rescind its directive that an associate's or bachelor's degree in nursing is equivalent to an associate's or bachelor's degree in a biological science for a moderate and high-complexity laboratory.