The General Microbiology Section provides essential screening, diagnostic, and reference testing for rabies, bacterial and parasitic diseases to support outbreak investigations and public health surveillance. Molecular sub-typing of some bacterial pathogens is also performed. The General Microbiology Section tests approximately 8,500 clinical specimens and 4,000 water samples per year. 
 

• Testing for tuberculosis, rabies, food-borne diseases (eg, botulism and other food poisoning), plague, diphtheria, whooping cough, gonorrhea, salmonellosis, shigellosis, E. coli O157, other diarrheal diseases, giardiasis, amoebic dysentery, cryptosporidosis, and other intestinal parasitic diseases.
• Conducting bacteriologic monitoring of surface, waste, and drinking water to support local health department programs and other state agencies.
• Compiling testing data for applied research and disease monitoring.
• Providing technical assistance and consultation to clinical laboratories, local health departments, and other agencies.
• Providing testing to support public health programs and activities undertaken by local health departments and other agencies.