The Virology Unit of the Alaska State Public Health Laboratory (APHL) is located on the University of Alaska Campus in Fairbanks Alaska and provides statewide viral diagnostic services that aid in the diagnosis and surveillance of human viral diseases that are of public health importance.
Services Provided: The APHL Virology Unit routinely tests for HIV, hepatitis A, B, and C, adenovirus, enterovirus, rubella, rubeola, mumps, varicella zoster virus, herpes viruses, rabies virus, norovirus, RSV, parainfluenza, and influenza A & B. Virus detection services are provided to both private and public health care providers throughout the state. Please consult the Laboratory Services Manual for specifics on testing.

Emerging Disease Testing: The APHL is part of the CDC’s Laboratory Response Network (LRN) and has the capacity to detect various emerging, exotic and novel viruses using molecular methods.

Statewide Disease Surveillance Roles: The APHL Virology Unit reports outbreaks of disease and ongoing disease surveillance to public health authorities in the Section of Epidemiology, for follow-up action to limit the spread of disease. The Laboratory also e-mails a weekly report of recent virus disease activity to physicians, nurses, laboratorians, and other interested individuals around the state. To receive this weekly report, contact Jayme Parker.

National Disease Surveillance Roles: The Virology Laboratory reports weekly and monthly disease surveillance activity to the World Health Organization, Influenza Centers of the Americas, the National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System, the CDC Rabies Control Program, and the CDC National Enterovirus Surveillance System.