A credible and accessible laboratory service is a cornerstone of any country's capacity to investigate public health events. Public health laboratories are responsible for providing timely and reliable results primarily for the purpose of disease control and prevention. They perform core public health and environmental activities, including public health reference tests, disease prevention, control, and surveillance, population-based interventions, and communication with healthcare providers on appropriate patient care, and emergency response efforts.

Well-functioning and sustainable laboratory services are essential for strong health systems and crucial for improving public health.