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| Laboratory Services Division |
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About the Laboratory Services Division
HISTORICAL TIMELINE 1895 - Early Testing for DiphtheriaThe State Board of Health established a small laboratory, in cooperation with the City of Denver, in Denver's City Hall. At that time, the laboratory’s primary purpose
was to perform diphtheria culture work.
During the laboratory's first year of operation, 1,487 examinations were conducted resulting in the recording of 224 cases of diphtheria in Denver, helping to isolate and limit this killer disease. 1923 - Expanded Testing for Public HealthThe State Board of Health reported in its biennial
report that,
in addition to performing tests for diphtheria, the laboratory was equipped to do tests for syphilis and typhoid fever, examination of smears for various venereal diseases, examination of sputum for tuberculosis and examination for rabies.
The Board also noted that the laboratory was capable of performing all analyses of water supplies for drinking and culinary purposes and food and drug analyses. 1941 - New Division StatusThe laboratory was officially viewed as a subdivision within the state's Division of Public Health in 1941.
1948 - Testing for Stream PollutionIn 1948, the department expanded laboratory services
without charge to physicians, dentists and public health workers throughout the state. Restaurants were inspected;
milk products were regulated, sanitized and pasteurized;
and the department began exhaustive studies of stream pollution.
The department also adopted new regulations on water supplies and plumbing. 1949 - Milk Testing AddedIn 1949, the state health department began licensing plants handling fluid milk for human consumption.
These activities led to expanded laboratory activity.
1950 Radiological Testing AddedThe laboratory conducted testing to determine the effects from exposure to small amounts of radioactive ores over a long period of time, the amounts and kinds of radiation
existing in the mines and mills,
the contamination of water supplies by
radioactive materials, the effects of radiation
on plant life and the effects that working radioactive ores
have on persons living in the area.
1965 - Newborn Screening AddedIn 1965, the state public health laboratory began testing newborns for Phenylketonuria (PKU), a disorder whereby the infant
is unable to break down and use an essential amino acid building block, phenylalanine, resulting in
mental retardation and in some cases, death.
Additional screening tests were added to the newborn test panel, to include Cystic Fibrosis and in 2006, Tandem Mass Spectrometry technology was implemented and 23 additional disorders were added to the screening panel. Present Day Laboratory TestingToday the Laboratory Services Division offers over 290 laboratory tests and 14 services, to include expert testimony and on-site inspections and certifications as well as accredited training for testing professionals.
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