Division of Microbiology
Public Health Microbiology:
The Division of Public Health Microbiology’s overall goal is to create healthy communities by providing diagnostic services to the citizens of Maryland. These services include, but are not limited to, processing various patient specimens, recovering and identifying infectious agents, and helping physicians to deliver the appropriate antimicrobial therapy to patients. In addition, the division is a reference laboratory for the state of Maryland health care providers and institutions to help them identify and confirm any microbial agent they encounter.
Public Health Microbiology tests for and identifies microorganisms causing such infectious diseases as:
- Intestinal illness (e.g. gastroenteritis)
- Parasitic disease
- Unusual bacterial infections
- Illness due to bioterrorism agents
The goal of the Division of Environmental Microbiology is to protect Maryland’s food and drinking water supply. The Laboratory monitors the presence indicator microorganisms and water-borne and food-borne pathogens.
- Drinking water
- Swimming pools and natural bathing areas
- Sewage plants and effluents
- Foods, shellfish and dairy products
- Bioterrorism testing and biotoxin surveillance