Preparedness and Surveillance | Vermont Department of Health
Source: http://healthvermont.gov/lab/preparedness-and-surveillance
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:29
Preparedness and Surveillance | Vermont Department of Health
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Preparedness and Surveillance
The Vermont Department of Health Laboratory (VDHL) assists with responding to new and emerging public health threats such as an unknown infectious organism, an environmental contaminant that impacts human health, or a biological, chemical or radiologic terrorist threat. The VDHL responds to these events in collaboration with first responders, law enforcement and other state and federal public health entities.
When new health risks emerge, the VDHL analyzes the threats and provides that information to officials who can then respond effectively to protect citizens.
VDHL’s response may range from providing information on available tests, analyzing samples within the VDHL, or collecting samples and submitting them to an outside lab.
National Laboratory Response Network and Sentinel Laboratories
The VDHL is a part of the National Laboratory Response Network (LRN) and maintains a local network of sentinel hospital laboratories to promote statewide laboratory communication for quick response to emergencies.
The laboratory supports and
trains
sentinel hospital laboratories in:
Recognizing biological and chemical terrorism agents
Evidence-control measures, and
Specimen collection, storage and shipment
Read more from the
CDC on laboratory emergency preparedness
Read more information from the
CDC on the Laboratory Response Network (LRN)
National PulseNet Program
The Vermont Department of Health Laboratory is a participant in the PulseNet program.
PulseNet is a program that was developed and is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). PulseNet is a function of all 50 state public health laboratories, as well as USDA, FDA, and international public health labs.
Goals of PulseNet
Detect foodborne disease case clusters by whole genome sequencing (WGS).
Facilitate early identification of common source outbreaks.
Allow for real-time communication among state, local health departments, and international partners.
Help food regulatory agencies identify areas where implementation of new measures is likely to increase the safety of our food supply, including food recalls when necessary.
How PulseNet Works in Vermont
A clinical laboratory submits a PulseNet qualified organism (e.g. Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter) to the Vermont Department of Health Laboratory, or the organism may be isolated at the Laboratory from a stool specimen submitted for enteric screening.
A microbiologist at the Laboratory sequences the genome of each isolate.
The sequence is compared to sequences of other organisms received by the Laboratory, and allele similarities and differences are identified.
If there is a match, Health Department epidemiologists will conduct interviews with the patients involved to try and find a common cause of infection.
Sequencing data is uploaded to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and compared to sequencing data from other PulseNet laboratories, both nationally and internationally.
If a match is detected, Vermont Department of Health epidemiologists work with epidemiologists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as investigators from other states and/or countries, to try and find a common cause of infection and prevent further outbreaks.
Biological Threats
The Vermont Department of Health Laboratory (VDHL) is a member of the
CDC’s Laboratory Response Network
for
biological agents (LRN-B)
The VDHL serves as a reference laboratory to identify and investigate biothreat agents and emerging high consequence infectious diseases submitted by local first responders, law enforcement agencies, and Vermont health care providers.
The VDHL can test for the following agents:
Bacillus anthracis
(bacteria that causes anthrax)
Burkholderia
spp
.
(bacteria that causes melioidosis)
Brucella
spp
.
(highly infectious bacteria that causes brucellosis)
Clostridium botulinum
(bacteria that causes botulism)
Coxiella burnetiid
(bacteria that causes Q fever)
Francisella tularensis
(bacteria that causes tularemia)
Ricin toxin testing (toxic agent that causes poisoning)
Variola
(VZV rule-in/Orthopox rule-out); (virus that causes smallpox)
Yersinia pestis.
(bacteria that causes plague)
The VDHL must be consulted prior to submission of samples or specimens.
Collection instructions and transport supplies for health care professionals and clinical laboratories can be provided.
Bio-Threat Resources
Clinical Laboratory and Preparedness Guide “Blue Book"
2018 Sentinel Lab Biothreat Agency Bench Cards
VDHL Contact Information
Read more information from the
CDC on Biological Terrorism
Read more information from the
Health Department on Public Health Preparedness
Chemical Threats
The Vermont Department of Health Laboratory (VDHL) is a member of the
CDC’s Laboratory Response Network
for
chemical agents (LRN-C)
In a chemical contamination event, the VDHL can rapidly detect exposure to chemical threat agents such as
mustard gas
, nerve agents,
lewisite
, and heavy metals in clinical specimens such as urine or blood.
The VDHL must be consulted prior to submission of samples or specimens.
Read
shipping instructions from the CDC
on specimens collected from people who may have been exposed to chemical agents.
Radiological Threats
The Vermont Department of Health Laboratory (VDHL) is a partner for any statewide response of a radiological threat. Radiological threats include improvised nuclear devices, radiological dispersal devices, nuclear power plant accidents with a material release, and radiological tampering of foods.
The VDHL has the capability and experience to detect radioactive materials that are alpha, beta and/or gamma radiation emitters, including radioactive cesium, iodine and tritium.
The VDHL is an
EPA partner
and a member of the
FDA Food Emergency Response Network
and
Laboratory Response Network
.
Read more information about
radiation emergencies and emergency preparedness
from the CDC.
Food Safety Testing
The Vermont Department of Health Laboratory works with the Vermont Food and Lodging Program, Vermont Department of Health Epidemiology Program, and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture to ensure the safety of Vermont’s food supply.
The Lab performs testing on food and environmental samples during outbreak investigations. We also conduct routine surveillance testing to look for harmful bacteria, particularly those known to cause food-borne illness (
E. coli
(O157 and STEC),
Salmonella
,
Listeria
, and
Campylobacter
).
Read more information on
foodborne illnesses from the Health Department
Form for Agency use only:
Environmental/Food Test Request Form
Our laboratory is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standards.
For more details on our current scope of accreditation please refer to the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Certificate located on the Public Health Laboratory
About Us
page.
Environmental Testing for Public Health Surveillance
Legionella
Legionellosis is an infection caused by the bacterium
Legionella pneumophila.
Outbreaks of legionellosis occurred after people breathed mists from a contaminated water source (e.g., air conditioning cooling towers, whirlpool spas, showers). Legionella can cause Legionnaires’ (LEE-juh-nares) disease which is a serious type of pneumonia.
Water samples submitted for
Legionella pneumophila
testing must be linked to a public health investigation and approved/collected by the Vermont Department of Health Environmental Health Division.
More information from the
Health Department on Legionellosis.
For more information from the CDC on Legionella click on the topics below:
Legionella in hot tubs
Controlling legionella in potable water systems
Aquatic professionals toolkit
Environmental Radiochemistry
The Vermont Department of Health performs radiological testing on environmental samples in partnership with the
Radiological Sciences Program
and the
Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
Multiple sample types are tested for naturally occurring and man-made radioactive materials.
Sample types include:
Water
Soil/Sediment
Milk
Vegetation
Fish
Air
The Laboratory can detect alpha, beta and gamma emitters, including tritium and radioactive iodine and cesium.
The Laboratory does not accept samples from members of the public for this type of testing.
Important Links
Biological Threats
Chemical Threats
Radiological Threats
Food Testing
Environmental Surveillance Testing
Subscribe to Preparedness and Surveillance
Last Updated:
October 1, 2025
Skip to main content
MENU
x
CLOSE
Translations for you
Preparedness and Surveillance
The Vermont Department of Health Laboratory (VDHL) assists with responding to new and emerging public health threats such as an unknown infectious organism, an environmental contaminant that impacts human health, or a biological, chemical or radiologic terrorist threat. The VDHL responds to these events in collaboration with first responders, law enforcement and other state and federal public health entities.
When new health risks emerge, the VDHL analyzes the threats and provides that information to officials who can then respond effectively to protect citizens.
VDHL’s response may range from providing information on available tests, analyzing samples within the VDHL, or collecting samples and submitting them to an outside lab.
National Laboratory Response Network and Sentinel Laboratories
The VDHL is a part of the National Laboratory Response Network (LRN) and maintains a local network of sentinel hospital laboratories to promote statewide laboratory communication for quick response to emergencies.
The laboratory supports and
trains
sentinel hospital laboratories in:
Recognizing biological and chemical terrorism agents
Evidence-control measures, and
Specimen collection, storage and shipment
Read more from the
CDC on laboratory emergency preparedness
Read more information from the
CDC on the Laboratory Response Network (LRN)
National PulseNet Program
The Vermont Department of Health Laboratory is a participant in the PulseNet program.
PulseNet is a program that was developed and is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). PulseNet is a function of all 50 state public health laboratories, as well as USDA, FDA, and international public health labs.
Goals of PulseNet
Detect foodborne disease case clusters by whole genome sequencing (WGS).
Facilitate early identification of common source outbreaks.
Allow for real-time communication among state, local health departments, and international partners.
Help food regulatory agencies identify areas where implementation of new measures is likely to increase the safety of our food supply, including food recalls when necessary.
How PulseNet Works in Vermont
A clinical laboratory submits a PulseNet qualified organism (e.g. Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter) to the Vermont Department of Health Laboratory, or the organism may be isolated at the Laboratory from a stool specimen submitted for enteric screening.
A microbiologist at the Laboratory sequences the genome of each isolate.
The sequence is compared to sequences of other organisms received by the Laboratory, and allele similarities and differences are identified.
If there is a match, Health Department epidemiologists will conduct interviews with the patients involved to try and find a common cause of infection.
Sequencing data is uploaded to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and compared to sequencing data from other PulseNet laboratories, both nationally and internationally.
If a match is detected, Vermont Department of Health epidemiologists work with epidemiologists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as investigators from other states and/or countries, to try and find a common cause of infection and prevent further outbreaks.
Biological Threats
The Vermont Department of Health Laboratory (VDHL) is a member of the
CDC’s Laboratory Response Network
for
biological agents (LRN-B)
The VDHL serves as a reference laboratory to identify and investigate biothreat agents and emerging high consequence infectious diseases submitted by local first responders, law enforcement agencies, and Vermont health care providers.
The VDHL can test for the following agents:
Bacillus anthracis
(bacteria that causes anthrax)
Burkholderia
spp
.
(bacteria that causes melioidosis)
Brucella
spp
.
(highly infectious bacteria that causes brucellosis)
Clostridium botulinum
(bacteria that causes botulism)
Coxiella burnetiid
(bacteria that causes Q fever)
Francisella tularensis
(bacteria that causes tularemia)
Ricin toxin testing (toxic agent that causes poisoning)
Variola
(VZV rule-in/Orthopox rule-out); (virus that causes smallpox)
Yersinia pestis.
(bacteria that causes plague)
The VDHL must be consulted prior to submission of samples or specimens.
Collection instructions and transport supplies for health care professionals and clinical laboratories can be provided.
Bio-Threat Resources
Clinical Laboratory and Preparedness Guide “Blue Book"
2018 Sentinel Lab Biothreat Agency Bench Cards
VDHL Contact Information
Read more information from the
CDC on Biological Terrorism
Read more information from the
Health Department on Public Health Preparedness
Chemical Threats
The Vermont Department of Health Laboratory (VDHL) is a member of the
CDC’s Laboratory Response Network
for
chemical agents (LRN-C)
In a chemical contamination event, the VDHL can rapidly detect exposure to chemical threat agents such as
mustard gas
, nerve agents,
lewisite
, and heavy metals in clinical specimens such as urine or blood.
The VDHL must be consulted prior to submission of samples or specimens.
Read
shipping instructions from the CDC
on specimens collected from people who may have been exposed to chemical agents.
Radiological Threats
The Vermont Department of Health Laboratory (VDHL) is a partner for any statewide response of a radiological threat. Radiological threats include improvised nuclear devices, radiological dispersal devices, nuclear power plant accidents with a material release, and radiological tampering of foods.
The VDHL has the capability and experience to detect radioactive materials that are alpha, beta and/or gamma radiation emitters, including radioactive cesium, iodine and tritium.
The VDHL is an
EPA partner
and a member of the
FDA Food Emergency Response Network
and
Laboratory Response Network
.
Read more information about
radiation emergencies and emergency preparedness
from the CDC.
Food Safety Testing
The Vermont Department of Health Laboratory works with the Vermont Food and Lodging Program, Vermont Department of Health Epidemiology Program, and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture to ensure the safety of Vermont’s food supply.
The Lab performs testing on food and environmental samples during outbreak investigations. We also conduct routine surveillance testing to look for harmful bacteria, particularly those known to cause food-borne illness (
E. coli
(O157 and STEC),
Salmonella
,
Listeria
, and
Campylobacter
).
Read more information on
foodborne illnesses from the Health Department
Form for Agency use only:
Environmental/Food Test Request Form
Our laboratory is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standards.
For more details on our current scope of accreditation please refer to the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Certificate located on the Public Health Laboratory
About Us
page.
Environmental Testing for Public Health Surveillance
Legionella
Legionellosis is an infection caused by the bacterium
Legionella pneumophila.
Outbreaks of legionellosis occurred after people breathed mists from a contaminated water source (e.g., air conditioning cooling towers, whirlpool spas, showers). Legionella can cause Legionnaires’ (LEE-juh-nares) disease which is a serious type of pneumonia.
Water samples submitted for
Legionella pneumophila
testing must be linked to a public health investigation and approved/collected by the Vermont Department of Health Environmental Health Division.
More information from the
Health Department on Legionellosis.
For more information from the CDC on Legionella click on the topics below:
Legionella in hot tubs
Controlling legionella in potable water systems
Aquatic professionals toolkit
Environmental Radiochemistry
The Vermont Department of Health performs radiological testing on environmental samples in partnership with the
Radiological Sciences Program
and the
Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.
Multiple sample types are tested for naturally occurring and man-made radioactive materials.
Sample types include:
Water
Soil/Sediment
Milk
Vegetation
Fish
Air
The Laboratory can detect alpha, beta and gamma emitters, including tritium and radioactive iodine and cesium.
The Laboratory does not accept samples from members of the public for this type of testing.
Important Links
Biological Threats
Chemical Threats
Radiological Threats
Food Testing
Environmental Surveillance Testing
Subscribe to Preparedness and Surveillance
Last Updated:
October 1, 2025