Anchorage Laboratory

Who we are

The Alaska State Public Health Laboratory in Anchorage provides reference and diagnostic services to aid in the diagnosis and surveillance of human diseases of public health importance.

View the lab's Certificate of Compliance.

What we do

Services Provided

The laboratory routinely tests for Tuberculosis (TB),​ Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Pertussis, Syphilis, Salmonella, Shigella, E. coli O157, Campylobacter, Vibrio, Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Haemophilus and Neisseria infections. These services are available to both private and public health care providers throughout the state.

Emerging Disease Testing

The laboratory uses Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques to detect Chlamydia and Gonorrhea infections in urine, endocervical and urethral swabs. The laboratory has developed a PCR method for detection of Bordetella pertussis from nasopharyngeal swabs. The Anchorage laboratory also serves as a reference laboratory

Statewide Disease Surveillance Roles

The laboratory reports disease outbreaks and ongoing disease surveillance to public health authorities in the Section of Epidemiology. The laboratory performs Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis to compare DNA fingerprints of pathogenic microorganisms to a National database for investigation and surveillance of foodborne outbreaks. The laboratory provides comprehensive tuberculosis testing services including culture, DNA probe confirmation, and susceptibilities on M. tuberculosis strains.

National Disease Surveillance Roles

The laboratory reports disease surveillance activity and submits isolates to national programs coordinated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These agencies include PulseNet, National Public Health and Food Regulatory Agency, the Regional Tuberculosis Genotyping Laboratory, and the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS).

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