Establishing national, regional and global laboratory networks are essential to support disease surveillance and outbreak investigation. Formalized networks facilitate the exchange of knowledge and expertise among experienced laboratory specialists and practitioners, thus facilitating timely and appropriate laboratory support to surveillance and epidemiology.

Laboratory biosafety procedures and practices describe ways to appropriately handle and work with pathogens, minimizing the risk of exposure and subsequent infection. Laboratory biosecurity concepts describe a culture of responsibility and accountability for valuable biological materials that aims at protecting these from loss, theft or deliberate misuse.

Combating communicable diseases

• Communicable disease surveillance and response

  Emerging and epidemic-prone diseases pose serious public health threats in the Western Pacific Region.

• Expanded Programme on Immunization

  WPRO has established laboratory networks especially regarding to EPI-related diseases based on public health laboratories. To reach the regional goal of measles elimination by 2012 and to maintain poliomyelitis-free, the role of these laboratory networks is critical.

  A sustainable high-quality must be maintained for existing laboratory networks and some new laboratory networks to support Japanese encephalitis/acute encephalitis syndrome, human papilloma virus and rotavirus should be developed in the region.

  • Poliomyelitis laboratory network
  • Measles and rubella laboratory network
  • Japanese encephalitis laboratory network
  • Human papilloma virus laboratory network

• HIV/AIDS and STI

  WHO is the leading health agency of the United Nations in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

• Malaria, other vectorborne and parasitic diseases

  Malaria, dengue, and a number of parasitic and vectorborne diseases have considerable negative impact on health and economic development in the Western Pacific Region.

• Stop TB

  Strengthening diagnostic laboratory facilities is a major component of WHO's strategy for the control of MDR tuberculosis in the region.

Health sector development

• Health technology and laboratory

  WHO continued support to Member States in improving the quality and accessibility of clinical laboratories.

  • Blood safety
  • Health laboratory services

Fact sheets

• Diagnostics and Laboratory Technology - FAQ (2008)
• Haemophilus influenzae type B (WHO Headquarters)

[more fact sheets]

News and press releases

24 September 2009
Laboratory integration a key to better health interventions—WHO
[full text]

24 March 2008
'Silent' TB epidemic spreads amid lack of laboratory facilities
[full text]

18 March 2008
WHO warns of TB threat
[full text]

Relevant publications and documents

Upcoming meetings and events

No meeting/event planned at this time.