The State Hygienic Laboratory recently published its annual report for fiscal year 2015 to provide a comprehensive overview of laboratory activities, achievements, finances and testing volumes.

Partnership is the theme of this year’s report.

“The importance of this common purpose, and the need for partnership, became frighteningly apparent this last year when several cases of Ebola were identified in the United States,” Hygienic Laboratory Director Christopher Atchison said in the report’s introductory letter.

“The spike in public fear resulting from the sudden appearance of this frequently fatal disease refocused attention on the need for national preparedness and emergency response. Issues of disease surveillance and investigation, health communications, legal requirements for screening, and the revamping of workforce training to ensure the accomplishment of best practices in addressing a communicable disease, all emerged in the wake of this outbreak,” he said.

“Each of these elements requires that we develop continuing partnerships between all of those who can achieve an effective response.”

The report is available on the Hygienic Laboratory website and in a mobile version.