Public Health Laboratory Services

Service Introduction

The Public Health Laboratory is a department under the Community Health Care Sub-board. It was founded in 1985 and relocated to the current site at Estrada dos Parses No. 8 in July 1998. The Public Health Laboratory Building consists of 7 stories, covering a gross floor area of about 2,300  square metres. There are 5 laboratory sections under the LSP, including Tuberculosis, Virology, Parasitology, Bacteriology and Chemistry.

The LSP is committed to providing efficient and quality-assured laboratory support services in areas such as public health emergency, monitoring of food, water quality, drugs and cigarettes, as well as the prevention and diagnosis of infectious diseases. It is also involved in research projects in collaboration with other institutions with the aim of understanding the health risk factors in Macao and evaluating the spread of common epidemic diseases in the community. Apart from laboratory support services, the LSP also offers internship and training opportunities for laboratory-related professionals.

In order to better discharge its functions with an elevated service standard, the LSP always strives to deliver a scientific, independent and impartial testing service capable of producing accurate and valid test results. On 2nd March 2006, the LSP was accredited by the China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS) in accordance with ISO/IEC17025 for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories, and on 31^st May 2018, ISO 15189 for the Quality and Competence of Medical Laboratories. Besides, the LSP has been a World Health Organization (WHO) accredited National Measles and Rubella Laboratory since 2015.

Spectrum of work

Pursuant to the provisions of Article 28 of Administrative Regulations no. 36/2021, Decree-Law no. 81/99/M dated 15^th November:

a)  Plan and implement the necessary actions to better understand the health risk factors and the spread of common epidemic diseases in the community, and evaluate the respective results;

b)  Perform the requested laboratory tests, including

1. Laboratory support services for the prevention and diagnosis of infectious diseases (including tuberculosis, viruses and parasites), as well as confirmatory tests for HIV antibodies;
2. Chemistry or virology-related laboratory support services for the monitoring of food, water quality, drugs, cigarettes, etc.;
3. Laboratory support services for public health emergency; and offer confirmatory test for HIV antibodies.
4. Engaging in epidemiological surveillance of infectious diseases.

c)  Conduct research projects on health-related issues in collaboration with other institutions and organizations.

Service targets and eligibility

a)  Requests for laboratory testing in the area of infectious diseases must be lodged by:

1.  a government health institution/ department (except where a cooperation agreement has been signed); or
2.  a non-government health institution/ clinic.

b)  Requests for laboratory testing for the monitoring of food, water quality, drugs and cigarettes must be lodged by:

1. a public authority (except where a cooperation agreement has been signed).

Note: The full list of test items can be found in the “Testing Service Agreement – Tuberculosis, Virology, Parasitology and Elements in Blood” and “Scope of Testing Service – Bacteriology and Chemistry”. For the application of infectious disease testing, please read the “Clinical Specimen Collection and Submission Guidelines” and complete the relevant request form.  ( Please visit the Health Bureau’s website download )

Result of application

a)  Results of laboratory testing in the area of infectious diseases will be issued:

1. in the form of digital report accessible through the Health Bureau’s Hospital Information System (HIS); or
2. in the form of paper-based report to the requesting institution/ department.

b)  Results of laboratory testing for the monitoring of food, water quality, drugs and cigarettes will be issued to the requesting institution/ department in the form of paper-based report.

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Enquiry

Executive department and unit: Health Bureau – Public Health Laboratory

Correspondence address: Public Health Laboratory Building, Estrada dos Parses No. 8

Telephone: (853) 2853 0160 / (853) 2853 2509

Facsimile: (853) 2853 0294

E-mail: lsp@ssm.gov.mo

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