NEW LAB DEDICATED FACILITY TO AID FAST DETECTION OF DISEASES.Byline: SANDRA T. MOLINA Staff Writer DOWNEY -- Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County dedicated its new $15 million laboratory on Wednesday, touting the state-of-the-art technology that enables public health officials to more quickly detect disease and contamination. The 34,000-square-foot lab is nearly double the size of the previous facility, and allows the county to more efficiently test for sexually transmitted diseases Sexually transmitted diseases Infections that are acquired and transmitted by sexual contact. Although virtually any infection may be transmitted during intimate contact, the term sexually transmitted disease is restricted to conditions that are largely including HIV HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), either of two closely related retroviruses that invade T-helper lymphocytes and are responsible for AIDS. There are two types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is responsible for the vast majority of AIDS in the United States. and AIDS, as well as food-borne bacteria such as E. coli E. coli: see Escherichia coli. E. coli in full Escherichia coli Species of bacterium that inhabits the stomach and intestines. E. coli can be transmitted by water, milk, food, or flies and other insects. , botulism botulism (bŏch`əlĭz'əm), acute poisoning resulting from ingestion of food containing toxins produced by the bacillus Clostridium botulinum. and salmonella. "Our technology allows the lab to identify water and food contamination and the source of disease outbreaks to quickly prevent and eliminate their spread," said Dr. Jonathan E. Fielding, public health director. Officials said the new lab, which actually opened in March, can detect water and milk contamination within 18 to 24 hours -- instead of two to three days it took at the old lab -- allowing the county to respond more quickly. "This is a wonderful facility and it will allow our hospitals to get quicker test results from the county to provide quality service to patients," said Dr. Bruce Chernof, director of public health services health services Managed care The benefits covered under a health contract . sandra.molina(at)sgvn.com (562) 698-0955, Ext. 3028 CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1) Public Health Microbiologist Supervisor Michael Stephens shows testing facilities for pollutants in water sources during a tour at the newly dedicated Los Angeles County Public Health Laboratory in Downey. (2 -- 3) Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, above left, and Public Health Director Dr. Jonathan Fielding finish cutting the ribbon for the new Los Angeles County Public Health Laboratory in Downey. Microbiologist Daly Gutierrez, at left, performs a test at the lab Wednesday. Keith Durflinger/Staff Photographer |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion