infectious diseases
PHLs and AMD: A Technology Match in
Atlanta and Nationwide
by Christin Hanigan, PhD, senior specialist, Advanced Molecular Detection
Public health laboratory (PHLs)
applications of advanced molecular
detection (AMD) technology have
burgeoned over the past four years, and
this year’s AMD Day, held September
25-26 in Atlanta, showed how far they
have come. In addition to detection
of foodborne diseases, PHLs are using
AMD technologies to detect vaccine
preventable diseases, respiratory diseases,
antibiotic resistance and more.
Beginning as a half day, US Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-
only event with poster presentations,
AMD Day has evolved to two full days
of presentations and discussions that
bring together state and local PHLs,
industry partners and CDC scientists.
While it retains its focus on poster
presentations, scientific exchange and
development of laboratory collaborations,
as of 2017, AMD day now includes oral
presentations in multiple formats.
Notable among these was the IGNITE
session, which challenged speakers to tell
stories of their work in only five minutes
with 20 slides. Dave Boxrud of the
Minnesota PHL won kudos for his account
of the 2016 Legionella outbreak in Hopkins,
MN, which he told from the perspective
of “Legionella Larry” who loved the
cooling tower he found on Airbnb and was
frustrated by the public health laboratory
that found him out and stopped his fun.
At another session, four laboratorians
discussed the implications of AMD
technology for the laboratory workforce.
One of the workforce needs related to
the implementation and use of AMD
technology is having bioinformatics
capabilities. Training and placing
bioinformaticians who can interpret the
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voluminous and complex data generated
by AMD technologies is a top priority at
PHLs. Yet bioinformatics is a relatively
new field and even newer for PHLs.
Poster presenters wait in line for their chance to speak about
their work...in one minute or less. Photo: CDC
While PHLs have become creative in
building bioinformatics capacity, the
APHL/CDC Bioinformatics Fellowship
offers an alternative worthy of
consideration. Since its inception four
years ago, the program has enrolled
24 fellows, many of whom remain
in public health. Thirteen presented
projects at AMD Day. Seven fellows from
the most recent class attended; one
presented work conducted at the Virginia
Division of Consolidated Laboratory
Services prior to the fellowship. n
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Fall 2017 LAB MATTERS
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