Skip to main content

Laboratory Certifications

The Public Health Laboratories maintain certifications of approval from federal and state agencies to perform laboratory analyses for samples and/or specimens over which they have regulatory authority. Certifications are maintained through satisfactory annual or biennial inspections of laboratory facilities by the appropriate agencies and by the laboratories' satisfactory performance on proficiency samples.

Microbiological Certification
The laboratories maintain certification by the New York State Department of Health, which has deemed status from CLIA. The laboratories participate in the proficiency testing program of the College of American Pathologists (CAP) in the categories of bacteriology, mycobacteriology, parasitology, virology, syphilis serology, and viral serology. Thus the laboratories maintain certification in these categories. The laboratories must maintain the certification from the state Department of Health to be able to perform diagnostic testing on patient specimens. The certification includes on-site inspections and proficiency testing in each category mentioned below.

Certifications:

  • Bacteriology (General)
  • Mycobacteriology (General S)
  • Parasitology
  • HIV
  • Diagnostic Immunity
  • Virology (General)
  • ELAP (Select Agents) + Legionella Waters

Environmental Certification
The laboratory maintains certificates of approval from the NYSDOH Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (ELAP), which has national recognition status in the National Environmental Laboratory Approval Program (NELAP) as administered by The NELAC Institute (TNI). The laboratory participates in the proficiency testing programs within TNI in the categories of Bacteriology, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Radiochemistry.

Certifications:

  • Potable water
  • Non-potable water
  • Solid and Hazardous Waste
  • Lead in Dust Wipes
  • Lead in Paint

Forensic Science Accreditations
The Division of Forensic Sciences maintains accreditation by the ANSI National Accreditation Board and fulfills the current requirements of ISO/IEC 17025, AR3125, and the FBI QAS Standards for Forensic DNA Testing Laboratories in the field of Forensic Testing. The Division of Forensic Science is accredited in New York State by the New York State Commission on Forensic Science.

Forensic Toxicology Certification
The Division of Forensic Toxicology maintains accreditation by the ANSI National Accreditation Board and fulfills the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and AR3125.  The Division of Forensic Toxicology is accredited in New York State by the New York State Commission on Forensic Science.