Public health laboratory systems: at the crossroads.

摘要

Twenty years ago, Walter Dowdle observed that the word "laboratory" did not even appear in the index of the now classic 1988 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, "The Future of Public Health." It was Dr. Dowdle's contention that despite the significant role of laboratories dating back more than 100 years to the earliest days of public health, a point had been reached where laboratories and their many contributions to public health were being taken for granted. During the last 20 years, much has changed to elevate the visibility of public health laboratories (PHLs). Their expanded roles, their engagement with partners, and their core functions have all been described and reaffirmed. This special supplement of Public Health Reports (PHR) is devoted to PHL systems, with an emphasis on activities and approaches that represent managing and improving the system across many different dimensions.