The Michigan Department of Community Health, Bureau of Laboratories received competitive funding from the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention to respond to a statewide need to develop basic diagnostic capacity at regional public health laboratories.

The Bureau of Laboratories works within our pre-existing Regional Laboratory System to make testing services available locally and to better meet the needs of public health workers investigating outbreaks of disease.  This testing must be coordinated through the local county health office and Communicable Disease Epidemiology Division, MDCH.

Regional laboratories will test implicated foods and stools from patients linked to the outbreak for four of the most common causes of foodborne bacterial illness: Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Campylobacter jejuni, and Escherichia coli O157:H7. To assure consistent quality assurance throughout the state, all regional laboratories will employ the same procedures, media, reagents and equipment. Testing for all other foodborne pathogens is available from the Microbiology Section (bacterial) or the Virology Section (Norovirus).  Norovirus testing for support of outbreak investigations is available at the Regional Laboratory that provides laboratory support for your county.  To request Norovirus testing for a suspect outbreak, contact the MDCH Bureau of Epidemiology at 517-335-8889.

We have created this chart to assist in the Evaluation of Possible Foodborne Illness.

FOOD SAFETY CAPACITY GRANTS

MDCH Bureau of Laboratories Contacts:
Frances P. Downes, Dr. P.H.
Bureau of Laboratories, Director
Ph.(517) 335-8063
Fax (517) 335-8051
E-mail: downesf@michigan.gov

Bacterial Diseases:
Patricia A. Somsel, Dr.P.H., S.M. (A.S.C.P.)
Division of Infectious Diseases, Director
Ph. (517) 335-8067
Fax (517) 335-9631
E-mail: somselp@michigan.gov

Viral Diseases (Norovirus Testing):
Anthony Muyombwe, Ph.D.

Virology/Immunology Section Director
Ph. (517) 335-8099

Fax (517) 335-9631
E-mail: MuyombweA@michigan.gov

 

REGIONAL LABORATORIES CONTACTS

Detroit:
Dr. Aloysius Hanson, Ph.D., Director of Laboratories
City of Detroit Department of Health
Laboratory Division
Ph. (313) 876-4223
Fax (313) 876-4221
e-mail: hansona@health.c1.detroit.mi.us

Houghton:
Jeffrey P. Massey, Dr.P.H.
Upper Peninsula Laboratory
Michigan Department of Community Health
Ph. (906) 487-3011
Fax (906) 487-3682
e-mail: MasseyJ@michigan.gov

Kalamazoo County:
Steve Tharp
Kalamazoo County HSD Laboratory
Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Ph. (616) 373-5360
e-mail: sathar@kalcounty.com

Kent County:

Cindy Overcamp, Lab Manager
Ann Lemieux

Kent County Health Department Laboratory
Ph. (616) 632-7130
Fax (616) 336-2274

Saginaw County:
Tammy Theisen
Saginaw County Health Department Laboratory
Ph. (989) 758-3680
Fax (989) 758-3750
e-mail: tammy.theisen@hline.localhealth.net

 

Rev. 6/2006