CDC Division of Laboratory Systems Update | April 2026

[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]

The DLS eNewsletter from CDC’s Division of Laboratory Systems is a monthly summary of events, trainings, and other resources that clinical and public health laboratory professionals can use to connect with the division and benefit from our work. We encourage you to forward this newsletter to your colleagues or invite them to subscribe here by typing "Laboratory Systems" in the Search field.

Let’s Celebrate Our Nations’s Laboratory Professionals! Lab Week 2026 is here! The 51st annual observance of Medical Laboratory Professionals Week (Lab Week) is sponsored by the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science and coordinated by a coalition of 18 national clinical laboratory organizations. While Lab Week runs from April 19–25, DLS recognizes the vital contributions laboratory professionals make to safeguard our nation every day. You play a critical role in the clinical care, public health, and emergency response systems that protect the health of our nation! Our theme “Laboratory Professionals Safeguard Health” celebrates your valuable role in public health and patient care. Join DLS in celebrating Lab Week! Questions About Laboratory Director University? Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Laboratory Director University (LDU): Where can I find information about continuing education (CE) credits? All courses include detailed CE information on OneLab REACH™ and credits are awarded after a successful posttest. Completed course certificates can be downloaded or printed from the My Learner Hub.  What trainings are offered by LDU? Courses in LDU’s learning pathways cover a variety of topics, including: Responsibilities delegated to CLIA laboratory personnel Laboratory director requirements before, during, and after the CLIA survey process Quality practices necessary to ensure accurate and reliable nonwaived testing A capstone project where learners apply LDU concepts in real-world scenarios What does it cost to take LDU courses? Nothing. All LDU comprehensive, high quality learning pathways and resources are free! Learn more about how LDU courses and tools can help your CLIA-certified laboratory succeed. Creating Genetic Testing Reference Materials In 2004, CDC established the Genetic Testing Reference Materials (GeT-RM) Coordination Program in partnership with the genetic testing community to make it easier for everyone to get access to reliable genomic DNA reference materials. Since then, GeT-RM has worked closely with partners in the genetic testing laboratory community to coordinate studies and create well-characterized, publicly available genomic DNA reference materials for genetic testing. More than 20 years later, 21 journal articles on genetic reference materials have been published by the GeT-RM Program. Visit the GeT-RM Reference Materials page to learn more. Free Laboratory Training Courses for Lab Week and Every Week Lab Week is the perfect time to take one of the free eLearning courses developed for laboratory professionals on OneLab REACH™! Many of the training courses offer continuing education credits, too. Here are some suggestions to get you started: Adult Blood Culture Collection Basic Culture Media and Isolation Techniques Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) Personnel Qualifications and Responsibilities: High Complexity Testing View more free laboratory training courses on OneLab REACH™! Subscribe to Laboratory Outreach Communication System Emails  CDC’s Laboratory Outreach Communication System (LOCS) provides timely information to the laboratory and testing community. Topics include laboratory preparedness and response, point-of-care testing, specimen collection, antigen testing, biosafety, laboratory data reporting, and regulatory requirements, as well as training and other resources to support your work. Click here to opt in now. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636)   TTY: 888-232-6348 Questions or Problems  |  Unsubscribe