The mission of the Michigan Regional Laboratory System is to provide for the delivery of analytical data which is accurate, timely, relevant to public health, clinical and epidemiological program needs. To continuously strive to improve testing quality and service delivery. To strengthen public health programs throughout Michigan through the voluntary affiliation of public health professionals in the Regional Laboratory System.

GOALS

The goals of the Michigan Regional Laboratory System are:

• To develop and implement standardized testing procedures which meet CMS criteria for public health with emphasis on local public health jurisdictions.
• To provide a mechanism for local health departments to meet federal laboratory testing standards as set by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment of 1988(CLIA).
• To continuously monitor and evaluate the quality of testing performance, so that appropriate intervention can be taken when testing quality falls below acceptable levels of performance.
• To serve as an expert testing, training and consultative resource for local public health.
• Assist local health department laboratories in obtaining compliance with the laboratory accreditation process.

REGIONAL DIVISIONS

Region 1: Lansing
Laboratory Director: Patricia Somsel, Dr.P.H.
Phone:  517-335-8067
SomselP@michigan.gov

Region 2: Saginaw
Laboratory Director: Kevin Cavanagh, Ph.D.
Phone:  517-335-9490
CavanaghK@michigan.gov
Technical Consultant: Tammy Theisen, MT(ASCP)
Phone: 989-758-3680
ttheisen@saginawcounty.com

Region 3: Kalamazoo
Laboratory Director: Jeffrey P. Massey, Dr.P.H.
Phone: 906-487-3011
MasseyJ@michigan.gov
Technical Consultant: Steve Tharp
Phone: 269-373-5360
sathar@kalcounty.com

Region 4: Grand Rapids
Laboratory Director: Frances Pouch Downes, Dr.P.H.
Phone:  517-335-8063
DownesF@michigan.gov
Technical Coordinator: Cindy Overkamp
Phone: 616-632-7130
cindy.overkamp@kentcountymi.gov

Region 5: Upper Peninsula
Laboratory Director: Jeffrey P. Massey, Dr.P.H.
Phone:  906-487-3011
MasseyJ@michigan.gov

Region 6: Central Michigan
Laboratory Director: James T. Rudrik, Ph.D.
Phone:  517-335-9641
RudrikJ@michigan.gov

Region 7:  Northern Michigan
Laboratory Director: Kevin Cavanagh, Ph.D.
Phone:  517-335-9490
CavanaghK@michigan.gov
Technical Consultant: Jacob Harmon
Phone: 989-732-6878
J.Harmon@NWHealth.org  

St. Clair County Health Department
Laboratory Director: Jeffrey P. Massey, Dr.P.H.
Phone:  906-487-3011
MasseyJ@michigan.gov
Technical Consultant:  Janet Ruggles
Phone:  810-987-5300
jruggles@stclaircounty.org

Associate Members

City of Detroit Department of Health Laboratory
Laboratory Director:   Aloysius Hanson, Ph.D.
Phone:   313-876-4214
hansona@health.ci.detroit.mi.us

Oakland County Health Division Laboratory
Laboratory Supervisor:   Barbara Weberman
Phone:   248-858-1310
webermanb@oakgov.com

Genesee County Health Department
Laboratory Officer:   Gary Johnson, M.D, MPH.
Phone:   810-257-3585
gjohnson@gchd.us

HISTORY

The Regional Laboratory System was developed in response to a specific need expressed by local health departments in Michigan . In 1967, the federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA' 67) required hospitals and large clinical laboratories to adhere to strict quality control, test performance and personnel standards. Each testing facility had to have a certificate and was subject to a compliance inspection every other year. In 1988 the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (CLIA' 88) expanded the standards and extended them to include any facility performing a clinical test. This meant that each local health department had to develop an entire laboratory program which complied with CLIA'88 to continue many of its programs(e.g. health screening, WIC, ESPDT, Family Planning). Local health departments were not equipped to comply with the federal legislation. In 1990, MDCH Bureau of Laboratories developed the Regional Laboratory System in response to provide experienced Laboratory Directors and Clinical Consultants to comply with the CLIA' 88 legislation. Seventy seven counties have joined the Regional Laboratory System.   Three jurisdictions (Oakland County, Genesee County, and the City of Detroit) participate as associate members in the Regional Laboratory System.  The associate members provide their own laboratory directors and oversight of laboratory operations, but collaborate with MDCH on the implementation of laboratory quality assessment activities.

There are 8 administrative regions, each with its own Laboratory Director and CLIA'88 certificate. The Laboratory Directors, Clinical Consultants and associated MDCH parties make up the Regional Laboratory Committee which meets on a quarterly basis. The primary thrust of the Regional Laboratory Committee has been to develop standardized testing methods and uniform quality assurance practices which comply with the CLIA'88 requirements. 

CONTROLS FOR WET MOUNTS

The Quality Control Unit within the Michigan Department of Community Health Bureau of Laboratories provides the Regional Laboratories with deactivated yeast and bacterial suspensions to be used as a control for Wet Mount preparations.  For more information on these see the Internal Proficiency Specimens for Wet Mount Microscopy page.

Rev. 1/22/2009