Public Health Laboratory

Chemical Testing Laboratory

The Chemical Testing Laboratory is comprised of the Drug Toxicology and Alcohol Testing sections. Drug and alcohol testing is done under the authority of Wyoming State Statute 31-6-105(a). The Drug Toxicology lab is responsible for testing biological samples for controlled and non-controlled substances, while the Alcohol Testing lab tests for alcohol in urine. Tthe Alcohol Testing Section is also responsible for the certification and maintenance of breath alcohol testing instrumentation, procedures and breath test operators statewide, as well as providing training through the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy and to individual agencies. Analysts frequently testify in courts statewide as expert witnesses.

Microbiology Section

The Microbiology Section includes specialized Bacteriology, Parasitology, Mycobacteriology, Serology, Diagnostic Immunology, Molecular Epidemiology, Molecular Diagnostics, and Water testing for coliforms laboratory areas. These laboratories provide testing services to to identify, track, control and prevent infectious diseases in Wyoming. Associations with state agencies, county and city groups, and national professional entities ensure state-of-the-art testing services. Cooperative associations include: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), WY City/County Health Departments, healthcare providers and medical laboratories, schools, county coroners, Environmental Protection Agency, WY Department of Environmental Quality, and other state laboratories such as the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory, Wyoming Department of Agriculture Laboratory, and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department Laboratory.

Public Health Preparedness Laboratory

The Public Health Preparedness Laboratory (PL) has a comprehensive statewide laboratory response program that provides Wyoming with the infrastructure necessary to respond to bioterrorism threats and emerging infectious diseases. The PL is the only Biosafety Level 3 laboratory in the state that is CLIA regulated and capable of performing confirmatory testing for bioterrorism agents in humans. The PL is a confirmatory level member of the Laboratory Response Network (LRN), a national coalition of laboratories with designated response capabilities working jointly with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This laboratory’s response program model ensures surge capacity for any disease outbreak and enhances the WPHL’s ability to respond to emerging infectious diseases such as newly emerging influenza viruses, Zika and Ebola.