Laboratory

The Laboratory Services Division provides testing in order to assist in the diagnosis of disease conditions and treatment of patients. Services consist of analysis of clinical bacteriology, medical serology, parasitology, environmental bacteriology, hematology, urinalysis and clinical chemistry, and urine pregnancy tests. Water (bacteriological) analysis is available to the general public. This lab will also serve as a preliminary screener for biological threat in the prevention of bioterrorism. The Laboratory receives 12,000 specimens per year and 48,000 tests are performed annually.

Hours of Operation

For Testing: Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

For Results: Monday through Friday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Lab Testing Offered:

For more information please call (956) 795-4908.

Biosafety Laboratory Level III (BSLIII)

Current CLHD Laboratory Capabilities

Clinical Laboratory provides testing in order to assist in the diagnosis of disease conditions and treatment of patients.

  • Services consist of bacteriology, serology, chemistry, hematology, urinalysis, pregnancy testing, and fecal occult blood testing.

Environmental Laboratory consists of the bacteriological analysis on water samples.

  • Drinking water is tested monthly for presence/absence of coliforms
  • Affluent water is tested daily or weekly as required for coliform quantitation.
  • Raw river waters are tested monthly or as needed for fecal and E coli count.

Bio Safety Level III (BSL3) Lab is qualified to test for the following Biological Agents:

  • Bacillus anthracis (Anthrax)
  • Yersinia Pestis (Plague)
  • Francisella tularensis (Tularemia)
  • Botulinum Toxin (Botulism)
  • Brucella spp.(Brucellosis)
  • Burkholderia spp.
  • Ricin
  • Lab workers can do a number of tests to identify an unknown substance. One of those tests is called PCR (polymerase chain reaction). PCR tests for the presence of DNA unique to each disease agent. Test results usually take between 3 to 5 hours. PCR can confirm earlier screening tests.

  • Other tests:

    • Anthrax – spore detection, bacteriological culture, motility, staining
    • Tularensis – bacteriological culture
    • Yersinia pestis – bacteriological culture, staining
    • Brucellosis – bacteriological culture, motility
  • Food Testing
  • Testing will be available for routine surveillance testing

  • When suspecting a food related illness or complaint:

    • CLHD Environmental Division will decide whether or not to conduct an investigation and if testing is necessary

  • Outbreak investigation:

    • CLHD Bt Lab will have the capacity to test for the most common food borne pathogens:

      • E Coli O157:H7
      • Lysteria
      • Salmonella
      • Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin