Laboratory Certification

The ISDH Laboratories are responsible for certifying laboratories under the Safe Drinking Water Act.  This includes conducting on-site evaluations plus evaluating proficiency test samples.  We maintain lists of certified microbiology and chemistry labs. For more information, please contact the certification officers listed in the contacts section of this document.

• Indiana Certified Microbiology Drinking Water Laboratories Updated October 2007

• Out-of-State Indiana Certified Microbiology Drinking Water Laboratories Updated October 2007

• Indiana Certified Drinking Water Chemistry Laboratories

• Certified Chemistry Laboratories Outside Indiana

  
  

Training

The Training Office serves as a liaison between local, State and Federal agencies. The training program utilizes guidance from agencies such as The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) and the Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA) to develop interactive training programs to increase health awareness through out the state of Indiana. Information and training is provided to physicians, Hospitals, sentinel laboratories and First Responders through workshops, exercises, onsite visits, and laboratory updates. New Pandemic Influenza training will be available soon as an online course through the Learning Management System (http://www.inlms.com/Public/default.aspx).  Educational materials on laboratory preparedness for public health emergencies are currently available through the website http://www.in.gov/isdh/bioterrorism/bioterrorism.htm

Continuing Education for Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) Laboratory Staff and the Indiana Health Care community

Quality Improvement measures are coordinated by the Training Department through internal proficiency testing and other continued educational services in order to maintain efficient levels of Quality Assurance. In a continued effort to provide high quality services to the Public Health Management of Indiana, the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) has offered training services activities for the laboratory's analyst and other support staff for over 90 years. Moreover,  the ISDH laboratory has continued to provide laboratory services in support of County Health Departments, TB Control, Dairy and Environmental Monitoring, Epidemiology surveillance and all Hazards Emergency Response and Preparedness.
In addition to these long-standing responsibilities, ISDH is faced with the dual challenge of testing for emerging infectious diseases like novel strains of influenza and West Nile Virus as well as potential agents of Bioterrorism and Chemical Terrorism. New technologies are constantly being implemented by the Public Health Laboratory, which necessitates continual education and training of personnel.

Activities

Safety Training for Laboratory Personnel

The Public Health Laboratory is a Biosafety Level 3 facility and is capable of facilitating testing in Biological and Chemical Terrorism.  The Training Office sponsors a significant laboratory safety training effort in tandem with the laboratory safety committee to ensure the security of the Public Health Laboratory and the safety of all laboratory personnel.

Shipping Infectious Substances

Only trained personnel may package and ship infectious substances. IATA regulations require recurrent training every 24 months and DOT regulations require recurrent training every 36 months. Shipping regulations change on an annual basis, and it is the shipper's responsibility to be knowledgeable about current regulations.
Please contact the Training Office if you are interested in shipping training.

Sentinel Laboratory and First Responder Training

The Public Health Laboratory Training Department provides training in conjunction with the CDC's Emergency Preparedness program by working with sentinel lab planning and response personnel and with first responders to develop and enhance operational plans and protocols to improve the Indiana State Laboratory's abilty to provide an emergency response to critical chemical and biological hazards which effect the public health, environment and food supply.