Association of Public Health Laboratories

What Association of Public Health Laboratories does

The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) is a U.S.-based nonprofit membership association founded in 1951 and headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland, representing state and local public health laboratories as well as environmental, chemical, agricultural, and food safety labs in the United States and internationally. APHL's core function is to strengthen laboratory systems through workforce development, technical assistance, advocacy, and the operation of national laboratory networks. It serves a constituency that screens roughly four million newborns annually for 31+ congenital disorders — credited with saving or improving approximately 12,000 lives each year — and operates disease surveillance infrastructure including PulseNet, GenomeTrakr, and CaliciNet for foodborne outbreak detection. The organization runs an annual conference that drew more than 1,400 attendees in 2024 and has been recognized as a Washington Post Top Workplace in 2021 and 2023.

APHL's technology stack centers on the AIMS (APHL Informatics Messaging Platform), an HL7-based messaging infrastructure that enables near real-time data exchange between hospital EHRs and public health laboratory information management systems. Supporting products include Detor (hospital-to-lab intermediary), the NewSTEPs Data Repository for newborn screening, the Laboratory Resource Exchange for emergency resource sharing, and electronic reporting systems for case reporting, immunization data (IZ Gateway), and genomic surveillance. In 2020, APHL launched the national key server on Microsoft Azure for the Apple/Google Exposure Notifications System during the COVID-19 response. APHL and partners secured $550 million in federal funding for a public health data modernization initiative, and an Artificial Intelligence / Data Science focus has been added under the Quality Systems and Analytics umbrella, though no proprietary AI products are disclosed.

APHL's revenue model is a hybrid of membership dues, federal grants and cooperative agreements (primarily CDC, with additional USAID/PEPFAR funding for global health work), event revenue (Annual Conference, Newborn Screening Symposium, ID Lab Con), fee-based training and workforce programs, publications (Lab Matters Magazine), and consulting services. The organization monetizes its networks through corporate sustaining memberships and a Corporate Leadership Council, and supports international capacity building across 30+ countries. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; membership tiers and corporate engagement are sold on an annual subscription basis via direct enterprise sales.

Name

Association of Public Health Laboratories

Legal name

Association of Public Health Laboratories

Website

https://aphl.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Founded in 1951, the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) is a U.S. nonprofit membership association that strengthens state, local, and international public health laboratories through workforce training, informatics platforms (AIMS, NewSTEPs), and national disease surveillance networks (PulseNet, GenomeTrakr, CaliciNet).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Health Laboratory Association Services

NAICS

Administration of Public Health Programs (923120), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

National Public Health Reference Laboratories (HLAJAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Lab Data Exchange & Interoperability (HL7/FHIR/LDT Results Delivery) (HLACAMAL)

Keywords

• Public health laboratory services
• Laboratory informatics platforms
• Newborn screening programs
• Foodborne outbreak surveillance
• Laboratory workforce training

Headquarters

HQ city

Silver Spring

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: APHL generates revenue through membership fees from state and local public health laboratories, corporate partners and sustaining members. The organization offers corporate engagement opportunities, a Corporate Leadership Council and sustaining membership tiers.
2. Grants and Government Contracts: APHL receives significant funding through cooperative agreements with CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), CDC's Global Health Security Partnerships, and other federal agencies. APHL and partners garnered $550 million for a data modernization initiative.
3. Events and Conferences: Revenue generated from the Annual Conference, Newborn Screening Symposium, ID Lab Con, and various other events. The 2024 Annual Conference in Milwaukee was the largest ever with 1,400+ attendees.
4. Training and Workforce Programs: Fee-based training programs including the APHL Learning Center, Training Hub, Board Exam Boot Camp, and professional development courses for public health laboratory scientists.
5. Publications and Technical Resources: Revenue from technical publications, Lab Matters Magazine, newsletters, and technical resource sales. Also includes the Member-developed Resource Center and toolkits.
6. Consulting Services: APHL offers consulting services for organizations, including public health laboratory consulting and global consulting opportunities for international laboratory capacity building.
7. Scholarship Programs: Programs such as Career Pathways in Public Health Laboratory Science (APHL-CDC Initiative) that provide $2,000 scholarships to 10 students annually.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

APHL is a national nonprofit membership association that supports public health laboratories in the United States and globally through workforce training, informatics platforms, laboratory surveillance networks, advocacy, and convening events. Its core sellable offerings include the AIMS informatics messaging platform, the NewSTEPs Data Repository, the Laboratory Resource Exchange, the Detor EHR-to-LIMS intermediary, the APHL Learning Center/Training Hub, food safety surveillance networks (PulseNet, GenomeTrakr, CaliciNet), and consulting and technical assistance services.

Product overview

APHL operates as a professional association offering a platform of interconnected informatics products and laboratory networks rather than a single commercial product. The core informatics offering is the AIMS Platform, which serves as the central messaging infrastructure connecting hospital EHR systems with public health laboratory information systems. Supporting this core platform are products including Detor (hospital-to-lab data intermediary), the NewSTEPs Data Repository for newborn screening, and the Training Hub for professional development. APHL also manages collaborative laboratory networks including PulseNet, GenomeTrakr, and CaliciNet for food safety surveillance, along with specialized tools like the Public Health Laboratory Impact Tool and Laboratory Resource Exchange. These products function as an integrated ecosystem supporting public health laboratory operations, emergency response, disease surveillance, and workforce development across federal, state, and international partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lab Culture News: APHL's blog providing timely insight on the impact of public health laboratory science and culture
• Lab Matters Magazine
• AIMS (APHL Informatics Messaging Platform)

Products and services

• AIMS Platform (APHL Informatics Messaging Platform) An informatics messaging platform that enables rapid, near real-time exchange of critical health data between hospital EHR systems and public health laboratory information management systems, supporting newborn screening, immunization, electronic case reporting, and disease surveillance data exchange.
• Detor APHL-developed intermediary solution that links a hospital's electronic health records (EHR) system with a public health laboratory's information management system to facilitate streamlined electronic data exchange.
• PulseNet A national laboratory network that uses DNA fingerprinting of foodborne bacteria to detect and investigate outbreaks, enabling rapid identification of multistate foodborne disease outbreaks.
• GenomeTrakr A distributed network of laboratories that sequence and share microbial genomes to improve outbreak detection and food safety surveillance through genomic epidemiology.
• CaliciNet A network for collecting and sharing norovirus sequences to support outbreak surveillance and investigation.
• NewSTEPs Data Repository A comprehensive data repository and resource library supporting newborn screening programs with technical assistance, data analytics, and resources for state newborn screening laboratories.
• Training Hub (APHL Learning Center) Centralized access point for APHL's training programs including the APHL Learning Center, competencies framework, Board Exam Boot Camp, and contact hours for public health laboratory professionals.
• Laboratory Resource Exchange An emergency resource sharing platform connecting laboratories to share equipment, supplies, and personnel during public health emergencies and outbreaks.
• Public Health Laboratory Impact Tool A tool for organizations to assess and demonstrate the impact and value of public health laboratory services.
• APHL Annual Conference Annual in-person and hybrid conference bringing together 1,400+ public health laboratory leaders, scientists, influencers, and partners for sessions, networking, preconference workshops, Innovate! Sessions, poster presentations, and the Dr. Katherine Kelley Distinguished Lecture.
• Newborn Screening Symposium Annual symposium dedicated to newborn screening, held in various locations, featuring keynote speakers, family stories, technical sessions, and award recognitions.
• ID Lab Con APHL's infectious diseases conference focusing on infectious disease laboratory work, outbreak response, and emerging infectious disease threats.
• Global Health Consulting and Technical Assistance International capacity building programs, laboratory twinning, global consulting opportunities, and technical assistance delivered through partnerships with CDC, PEPFAR, USAID, and international health ministries.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 12,000 lives saved or improved annually through newborn screening programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 April 2024The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative partnered with APHL's Global Health team to bring genomic epidemiologic training to regions around the world via the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Network. The partnership focuses on expanding genomic sequencing and bioinformatics capacity in international public health laboratories.
• Apple and Google (Exposure Notifications System)coreTechnology or Integration · 12 August 2020APHL launched the national key server on Microsoft's Azure cloud platform to support the Apple/Google Exposure Notifications System (ENS) in the United States. This was part of the COVID-19 response to enable exposure notification through a decentralized system.
• Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network (CPHLN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018APHL and CPHLN signed a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) reaffirming their long-standing cross-border collaboration and updating the specifics of the partnership. Executive Director Scott Becker signed on behalf of APHL.
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017APHL and EPA formalized an environmental health partnership through a signed agreement, with APHL Executive Director Scott Becker signing on behalf of APHL. The partnership formalizes collaboration on environmental health testing, monitoring and policy.
• HOSA-Future Health ProfessionalsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAPHL partners with HOSA-Future Health Professionals for the Career Pathways in Public Health Laboratory Science initiative, funding $2,000 scholarships for 10 students annually interested in pursuing careers in laboratory science. APHL staff attend the HOSA International Leadership Conference.
• QIAGENminorGTM or Marketing PartnerQIAGEN sponsors the annual Microbe Masterpieces & Chemistry Creations Art Contest as part of Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month, engaging laboratory professionals through creative arts.
• Microsoft AzurecoreTechnology or IntegrationAPHL used Microsoft Azure cloud platform to host the national key server for the Apple/Google Exposure Notifications System supporting COVID-19 exposure notifications across the United States.
• US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPHL has an extensive partnership with CDC spanning multiple programs including the Laboratory Response Network (LRN), Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) Program, APHL-CDC Fellowship Program, Global Health Security Partnerships, and data modernization initiatives. CDC provides major grant funding to APHL and its member laboratories.
• Global Laboratory Leadership Programme (GLLP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPHL participates in the Global Laboratory Leadership Programme, a comprehensive competency-based systems-focused laboratory leadership program developed with international partners. First Ukrainian cohort graduated with 12 participants and 7 national mentors.
• African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPHL Global Health team participates in ASLM conferences (ASLM2023) alongside leaders and researchers in laboratory practice from across the world, contributing to global laboratory medicine advancement.
• Research!AmericaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAPHL partners with Research!America and other public health organizations for Public Health Thank You Day, celebrated annually on the Monday before Thanksgiving.
• University of South Florida (USF) College of Public HealthminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPHL collaborates with USF College of Public Health on the DrPH Public Health and Clinical Laboratory Science and Practice program, a degree program designed to meet the needs of working laboratory professionals and strengthen the pipeline of public health laboratory leaders.
• Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAPHL has a long-standing collaboration with CSTE for laboratory-epidemiology integration, joint advocacy efforts, and coordination of public health surveillance activities between laboratory and epidemiological professionals.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• American Society for Microbiology (ASM): ASM is the largest US professional society for microbiologists and laboratory scientists, overlapping APHL's infectious disease and clinical microbiology community on training, publications, and continuing education. ASM and APHL jointly engage on workforce development and federal advocacy for laboratory science.
• Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI): CLSI develops laboratory standards and guidelines that APHL member laboratories follow, making it a direct peer in the public health laboratory standards, quality systems, and training ecosystem. Both organizations are referenced extensively in CLIA-compliant laboratory operations.
• Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO): ASTHO represents state and territorial health officials and operates an analogous membership, advocacy, and federal liaison model to APHL. Both organizations receive CDC cooperative agreement funding and collaborate on public health preparedness, infectious disease policy, and data modernization.
• American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP): ASCP is the largest US professional association for clinical laboratory professionals, providing certifications, training, and Board exam prep that directly competes with APHL's Board Exam Boot Camp and workforce development programs targeting laboratory scientists.
• National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO): NACCHO is the membership association for nearly 3,000 local health departments across the US, comparable in size and funding model to APHL. Both organizations are CDC-funded, run advocacy and workforce programs, and serve overlapping constituents in local public health infrastructure.
• Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE): CSTE represents state and territorial epidemiologists in a near-identical membership structure to APHL's state/local labs. APHL and CSTE have a long-standing co-stewardship relationship over surveillance data flows (e.g., NNDSS, eCR), making CSTE the closest direct structural peer for APHL.

Broad incumbents

• Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS): HIMSS is the dominant global health informatics professional association, an adjacent peer to APHL's informatics focus. HIMSS operates at much larger scale but competes for thought leadership, conference attendance, and corporate sponsorship in the health IT ecosystem that APHL plays in through AIMS.
• American Public Health Association (APHA): APHA is a broader, older public health professional association focused on overall public health practice, policy and advocacy. While APHL is specialized to laboratories, APHA directly overlaps on advocacy, federal funding coalition work, and the Annual Meeting, and the two organizations partner and co-lobby frequently.

Emerging players

• Public Health Informatics Institute (PHII): PHII is a non-profit that designs and implements public health informatics workforce and system change programs. It is a direct functional peer to APHL's informatics focus areas (AIMS, electronic case reporting, data modernization) and often partners with or competes for the same CDC informatics funding.
• African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM): ASLM is the leading pan-African laboratory medicine association and a direct international peer in global health capacity building, genomic epidemiology training, and laboratory networks. APHL co-participates in ASLM conferences and the Global Laboratory Leadership Programme.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/APHL
• Facebookfacebook.com/PublicHealthLabs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/association-of-public-health-laboratories-aphl

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Association of Public Health Laboratories