Who are we and what do we do?

The Georgia Laboratory Network is composed of CLIA-certified labs connecting to share information with each other and Georgia Department of Public Health. We are interested in communicating regularly with labs, reinforcing lab capacities, and supporting biosurveillance programs for emergency preparedness.

The Center for Applied Pathogen Epidemiology and Outbreak Control (CAPE), a Pathogen Genomics Center of Excellence, coordinates the administrative organization of the network. CAPE is a dynamic public health-academic collaboration composed of Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) and academic partners around Georgia, including Augusta University/Medical College of Georgia (AU), University of Georgia (UGA), Emory University, Georgia State University (GSU), and Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI). Georgia DPH dictates specimen requests and research priorities. GTRI is responsible for developing the network platform.

How does the network address laboratory certification?

The network is not a trade organization, accrediting body, or regulatory authority. Therefore, the network does not conduct audits or CLIA certification. However, network members may share certification preparation tips with one another through the network platform.

What are the membership fees?

There is no cost to network membership or participation in network activities.

What are the benefits of joining the network?

The network provides a social space for Georgia lab professionals with similar interests and goals to collaborate on shared obstacles. For biological emergency preparedness, the network supports methods for maximizing surge capacity for testing (see Memorandum of Understanding) and public health surveillance with real-time updates in the field for labs and the public. Ultimately, the network enhances linkages between labs and epidemiologic analyses crucial for public health.

How does it work?

Labs join the network through submission of the web form on this website. Members are contacted by email with onboarding instructions for the bidirectional platform through which labs can access discussion forums, event and news updates, capacities and capabilities data entry fields, and view current pathogen trends in Georgia.