Advanced Molecular Detection

APHL works with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Office of Advanced Molecular Detection (OAMD) and other partners on both the implementation and use of next generation sequencing (NGS) in public ​​​health laboratories. We work to address challenges laboratories may face, including a changing landscape of workforce and laboratory needs, as they expand their use of NGS for disease detection and surveillance. We continually develop tools, resources ​​and training, convene meetings and facilitate constant dialogue with leaders in the public health laboratory arena.  ​

APHL and CDC's OAMD established the NGS Quality Initiative to develop a quality management system addressing many of the NGS challenges experienced by public health and clinical laboratories. APHL and CDC, together with state and local public health laboratories, are working to develop standard operating procedures and other NGS-based quality management tools that can be implemented within laboratories

The emergence of pathogen genomics in public health has emphasized the need for a centralized platform to support complex laboratory and epidemiological workflows. Public health laboratories have faced numerous challenges with the implementation of genomics, including limited bioinformatics experts in public health and the lack of a harmonized approach to sharing and processing NGS data to support rapid outbreak response and public health action. To address these challenges, OAMD is developing the AMD National Bioinformatics Platform to bridge the gap between pathogen genomics and genomic epidemiology by developing a cloud-based computational platform for sharing, analyzing and storing NGS data and related metadata in a way that protects privacy and allows for more informed decision making when responding to emerging threats. 

AMD Platform Communities of Practice (CoPs) were established to engage and exchange information amongst public health laboratory professionals to discuss and document key IT informatics concerns and requirements for the AMD Platform. 

Members of the CoPs are public health practitioners representing all 64 ELC-funded jurisdictions, who possess subject matter expertise in areas such as NGS wet lab protocols, bioinformatics, informatics, epidemiology and information technology. Their expertise and knowledge have been leveraged to help inform requirements and identify potential components for the AMD Platform. 

Participation in the CoPs is limited to public health laboratory and health department staff. Industry partners are not eligible to participate.

Sign up to join a CoP

Below are guidance documents, templates, working papers and more to aid in the development, adoption and integration of the AMD Platform. 

Disclaimer: These resources were developed by the AMD Platform CoPs and reflect their expertise and experiences. Any content provided herein is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, financial or professional advice. They do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of APHL or CDC. The reader is responsible for adhering to all relevant policies and procedures within their jurisdiction when utilizing the developed resources.