Rhode Island State Health Laboratories

The State Health Laboratories are an essential component of the state and national public health infrastructure. The State Health Laboratories provide quality analytical and technical laboratory information in support of state and national disease prevention programs, environmental health programs, provide science in the service of justice and  maintain capacity to respond to emergencies.

The State Health Laboratories are  organized into three scientific disciplines or sections, Biological Sciences, Environmental Sciences and Forensic Sciences.  Laboratories in each section, with their own distinct roles, are supported by staff in the common Administration and Support section.  Section Chiefs and the Laboratory Administrator report to the Laboratory Director who is responsible for the overall management and leadership of all Laboratory programs. The Laboratory is currently comprised of approximately Seventy-nine full-time employees, including  six at the Doctoral level, seventeen Master’s Degrees, thirty-five  Bachelor’s Degrees, eight Associate’s Degree and thirteen support staff.

Core Functions

• Disease Surveillance, Prevention, Control
• Emergency Response
• Environmental Health and Protection
• Food Safety
• Integrated Data Management
• Laboratory Improvement and Regulation
• Partnerships and Communication
• Policy Development
• Public Health Related Research
• Reduction of Violence and Crime
• Reference and Specialized Testing
• Training and Education

Laboratory Sections

Biological Sciences

• Bioterrorism Response/Special Pathogens
• Molecular Biology/Enteric Pathogens
• Food/Water Microbiology
• Serology
• Quality Assurance

Environmental Sciences

• Air Pollution
• Biomonitoring/Chemical Terrorism Response
• Food Chemistry
• Inorganic Chemistry
• Organic Chemistry
• Analytical Lab Certification
• Quality Assurance

Forensic Science

• Breath Analysis
• Evidence Collection in Forensic Biology
• DNA Analysis
• DNA Biology
• Drug Chemistry
• Toxicology

Accreditations

Rhode Island State Health Laboratories are accredited or inspected by the following agencies:

• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services – (CLIA) Certificate of Compliance for High Complexity Clinical Laboratory
• EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) – Ambient Air and Drinking Water Testing
• FBI – (Federal Bureau of Investigations) - DNA Analysis & CODIS
• FDA - (Food & Drug Administration) - Dairy Product and Shellfish Testing
• Rhode Island Department of Health - In State Analytical Laboratory Certificate
• Rhode Island Department of Health - In State Clinical Laboratory License
• ISO17025-Forensic Biology Laboratory