Public Health Laboratory

Established in 1892, the NYC Public Health Laboratory was the world's first municipal bacteriological laboratory. In the century since its first campaign to control diphtheria in NYC, the Public Health Lab has expanded to provide a variety of clinical and environmental laboratory testing services to detect and characterize disease causing organisms. Some of these services include community testing for tuberculosis and sexual health associated diseases; antibiotic resistance testing; foodborne disease investigations; outbreak response (Ebola, Legionnaires’ disease, COVID-19, mpox); whole-genome sequencing; beach water and wastewater pathogen monitoring; and biothreat agent testing.

In addition to working closely with local partners, the Public Health Lab has strong partnerships and collaborations with academic institutions, public health labs nationwide, the CDC and the NY State Department of Health Wadsworth Center.

• NYS Laboratory permit (PDF)
• Association of Public Health Laboratories

Tests and Services

CDC’s Infectious Diseases Laboratories accepts specimens from state public health laboratories and other federal agencies for analysis. Specimens from private healthcare providers and institutions in NYC should be submitted to the NYC Public Health Laboratory (PHL) for appropriate processing.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated its infectious disease test directory indicating that a number of tests have been taken offline either temporarily or permanently. CDC routinely reviews the tests maintained by its laboratories as part of its commitment to laboratory quality and efficiency. As part of this review process, CDC regularly pauses some tests while reviews and changes are made. The overwhelming majority of CDC's infectious disease diagnostic tests remain online.

During periods when diagnostic tests are unavailable at CDC, they are providing guidance for alternative testing options or methods. For any diagnostic needs during this period, subject matter experts at CDC and the NYC PHL are available for consultation. Please contact NYC PHL at 212-671-5700 for any assistance navigating the CDC Test Directory.

• PHL Tests and Services Manual (PDF)
• Microbiology
  • CT/NG NAAT
  • Enteric Bacteriology
  • General Bacteriology
  • Mycobacteriology
  • Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing
• Environmental Sciences and Toxicology
  • Chemistry
  • Microbiology
• Virology and Immunology
  • HIV
  • Virus Serology
  • Virus Identification
  • Rabies
• Biothreat Response Laboratory
  • Bio-Threat Response
• Biosafety and Outreach
  • NYC PHL Biosafety Outreach Program
• Chemical Threat Response Laboratory
  • Chemical Threat Response

General Service Information

Questions concerning the availability of tests not listed, specimen requirements, or other information should be directed to the laboratory listed below.

Area	Phone
Microbiology	212-671-5849
Virology and Immunology	212-671-5890
Environmental Sciences and Toxicology	212-671-5823
Biothreat Response	212-671-5834
Chemical Threat	212-671-5900
General Services	212-671-5700

Public Health Laboratory Submission Guidelines

To order laboratory tests electronically, visit eOrder.

• eOrder User Guide (PDF)
• Mpox Testing at the NYC Public Health Lab (PDF)
• COVID-19 Testing at the NYC Public Health Lab (PDF)
• NYS/NYC Laboratory Guidelines for Handling Specimens from Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Ebola Virus Disease (PDF)
• NYS/NYC Guidance for Laboratory Testing and Management of PUIs for Ebola Virus Disease in Non-Designated Hospitals (PDF)