Competency

Develop and prepare the laboratory workforce to meet critical health needs

 

Public health laboratories play a critical role in safeguarding the nation’s health, but they are only as good as the laboratory scientists performing critical day-to-day work. With the many challenges facing public health laboratories today, CDC supports continuously strengthening the competency of laboratory scientists and laboratory support staff. This need for education and training extends beyond just public health laboratories to include the entire laboratory community.

LSPPPO serves the global laboratory community through advancing the quality and excellence of laboratory practice standards and guidelines, as well as creating and enhancing laboratory training programs. LSPPPO’s Division of Laboratory Policy and Practice (DLPP) uses the ADDIE* model to implement effective needs-based training pertaining to public health laboratory methods and technology. DLPP also evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of public health laboratory education using Kirkpatrick’s four-level evaluation model.

LSPPPO’s work contributes to improved health outcomes by supporting accurate testing and results interpretation. The Division of Laboratory Science and Standards (DLSS) designs and develops online training and practice guidelines to update laboratory professional practices. Together, LSPPPO’s divisions offer a diversity of services to meet some of the growing workforce demands of the global laboratory community.

*Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation