​​APHL provides resources for laboratories to aid in their surveillance and testing of infectious diseases. Here you will find online learning activities, training materials and other tools intended to assist international public health laboratories. APHL is not able to offer any continuing education credits for these activities. If you are based in the US and looking for courses offered by APHL for CEUs please proceed to the APHL Learning Center

General Learning

On-Demand Activities 

Clinical Specimen Handling and Tracking 

This learning activity consists of three modules that focus on the pre-analytical phase of the specimen handling lifecycle. Module one covers specimen labeling upon collection, module two covers transport and accessioning, and module three goes into more detail on accessioning by discussing laboratory data management. Available in English and French. Approximate time to complete course is 1 hour (~20 minutes per module); certificate of completion provided.

Scientific Writing: The Basics 

This learning activity is offered in two formats: an online version and a version to deliver your own in-person workshop. Each format covers the same topics: overview of the scientific writing process; manuscript preparation and manuscript revision. Available​ in English, French and Spanish; certificate of completion provided for online version. 

Other Resources

Packaging and Shipping Toolkit

​The APHL Packaging and Shipping Toolkit is a collection of instructional materials adapted from APHL packaging and shipping trainings. This resource does not confer IATA certification.

Influenza Resources

Detection and Response to Novel Influenza

These training materials consist of didactic lectures, group exercises and a case study designed to facilitate a multi-sectoral discussion of a response to the detection of influenza virus of pandemic potential in poultry and human populations.

Bacterial Meningitis Resources

Standard Operating Procedures

Standard Operating Procedures for Identification and Characterization of Neisseria meningitidisStreptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae

This manual contains standard operating procedures for the identification and characterization of bacterial meningitis pathogens from cerebrospinal fluid by culture. Available in English and French

On Demand Activities 

Regional Laboratory Quality Training for Bacterial Meningitis Surveillance

These recordings are of a live training given over the course of six days in September 2021. The videos include didactic lectures designed to introduce quality management systems and inform laboratorians of best practices to assure quality in laboratory processes. Available in English and French. 

Preliminary Identification of Bacterial Meningitis Pathogens

This course is separated into three modules that cover biosafety and good laboratory practices, transporting and handling specimens, and examining specimens. Available in English and French.

Yellow Fever Virus On Demand Activity

Using the Yellow Fever MAC-HD Kit to Detect IgM to Yellow Fever Virus

These modules demonstrate how to use the Yellow Fever MAC-HD ELISA Test Kit to detect immunoglobulin M antibodies to yellow fever virus, including how to set up and conduct the ELISA, calculation demonstrations and results analysis. Available in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese.

Syphilis On Demand Activity 

Syphilis Diagnostics: Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) Manual Test Methods

This learning activity will describe the intended use of the manual Rapid Plasma Reagin, or RPR, procedure and then describe and demonstrate how to perform testing (both qualitative and semi-quantitative). The course will also describe interpretation of results, reporting and additional testing considerations. This activity is intended for bench level laboratorians.