07 Mar 2023
MH 70:06/17
07 March 2023
UPDATE ON LABORATORY ISOLATES AND SAMPLES FOR PUBLIC HEALTH SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMMES This circular provides an update on the list of laboratory isolates and samples for public health surveillance programmes under the Infectious Diseases Act (Chapter 137). Background
2. The National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) was established by the Ministry of Health in 2007 and is now part of the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID).
3. The NPHL oversees the national laboratory surveillance of infectious diseases and plays a critical role in the investigation of outbreaks of public health concern. NPHL works closely with colleagues in the clinical laboratories and research institutions to enable a coordinated and broad-based response to infectious disease threats of public health importance.
4. Under the Infectious Diseases Act, MOH may require samples to be sent to the NPHL or other designated laboratories for public health surveillance programmes or other epidemiological investigations (please see Annex A).
5. The updated list of pathogens for submission to NPHL is attached in Annex B. In the event of a pandemic or outbreak, other pathogens or samples may be requested.
6. We thank you for your efforts in responding to the requests to send clinical samples and isolates to NPHL, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and look forward to your continued support.
7. Please contact NPHL (Annex C) if you need further clarifications on this circular.
Yours sincerely,
PROF DERRICK HENG
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL SERVICES (PUBLIC HEALTH GROUP)
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
You may download the full documents here:
Download [.pdf, 119KB]Surveillance Submission Forms