Los Angeles County
Department of Public Health
Public Health Laboratory
12750 Erickson Avenue
Downey, California 90242

Acting Laboratory Director
Mary Beth Duke, M.S., PHM

Phone: (562) 658-1330
Fax: (562) 401-5999

Monday - Friday
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Detection and Identification by molecular and conventional methods:

• Bacillus anthracis
• Yersinia pestis (Plague bacillus)
• Francisella tularensis
• Burkholderia pseudomallei, B. Mallei (meloidosis, glanders)
• Clostridium botulinum - toxin detection (by Mouse bioassay) and culture
• Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (Environmental Samples only)
• Ricin (Environmantal Samples Only)
• Rule out Small pox - by exclusion of Vaccinia, Variola, Varicella-zoster (VZV), Herpes Virus
• SARS (Real Time PCR only)
• Avian Flu - H5N1 (Real Time PCR only)
• Serology -
  • Brucella spp. IgG & IgM
  • Francisella spp. Total Antibody
  • Yersina spp. Total Antibody
  • SARS Total Antibody

If any of the above organisms or conditions is suspected, please contact for telephone consultation:
The Los Angeles County Public Health Laboratory
Monday thru Friday 800 AM - 5:00 PM
at (562) 658-1300.

After hours or on weekends, contact the County Operator at (213) 974-1234 and request to be connectd to the Public Health Laboartory staff member on call.