Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene

What Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene does

Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH) is a state government public health laboratory operating as a unit of the University of Wisconsin-Madison under the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. Founded in 1903 and headquartered at 465 Henry Mall in Madison, WI, with a secondary Wisconsin Occupational Health Laboratory (WOHL) facility at 2601 Agriculture Drive, WSLH provides fee-for-service clinical, environmental, occupational, and forensic toxicology testing to Wisconsin healthcare providers, government agencies, industrial clients, and citizens. Its service portfolio spans newborn screening (50+ disorders, hearing loss, CCHD), communicable disease diagnostics, cytogenetics and molecular genetics including whole exome sequencing, cytology, clinical metals, water and environmental testing (including PFAS and COVID-19 wastewater surveillance), industrial hygiene chemistry (asbestos, bioaerosols, metals, pesticides, silica, solvents, gravimetric), forensic toxicology for traffic safety and coroner/ME work, and fee-based proficiency testing for external laboratories. WSLH also administers free WisCon safety consultations to Wisconsin small businesses under an OSHA cooperative agreement and runs the BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses and Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries for the state, reaching ~6,000 establishments annually.

WSLH funds operations through a hybrid model: fee-for-service testing revenue, state appropriation via UW-Madison, federal grants (notably OSHA funding 90% of WisCon and CDC support for X-ALD newborn screening), and cooperative agreements with the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pricing is unit-based and publicly disclosed for selected services (e.g., lead testing $40-$80 per sample, asbestos testing $48-$96 per sample, with priority and rush tiers). The lab holds multiple regulatory certifications and accreditations — CLIA, CAP, EPA, AIHA LAP LLC, ANAB-ABFT under ISO/IEC 17025:2017, WDATCP, WDNR NR 149, NELAC, and CDC ELITE — and maintains the Wisconsin Clinical Laboratory Network (WCLN) and WMLN for laboratory surveillance and training. Distribution is direct via requisition forms, phone orders, online ordering, and a specimen courier (Purple Mountain Solutions for newborn screening, UPS for other specimens). Service area is Wisconsin, with explicit geographic restrictions excluding California, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Washington D.C.

Name

Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene

Legal name

Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene

Website

https://slh.wisc.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1903

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene is the state's public health and environmental laboratory, operated as part of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, providing clinical, environmental, occupational, forensic toxicology, and newborn screening testing to Wisconsin healthcare providers, government agencies, employers, and citizens.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Health Laboratory Services

NAICS

Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (62151), Medical Laboratories (621511), Testing Laboratories and Services (541380)

SIC

Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

National Public Health Reference Laboratories (HLAJAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water & Utility Testing (PW/WFI/Steam/Gases) (HLAGADAO), Biohazard Spill Response & Decontamination Services (BPALAGAH), Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection & Program Operations (BPALAFAL)

Keywords

• Public health laboratory
• Clinical diagnostic testing
• Environmental water testing
• Newborn screening services
• Occupational health testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Madison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Laboratory Testing Services: Fee-for-service testing including clinical diagnostics, environmental testing, occupational health (WOHL), and forensic toxicology. Services provided to healthcare providers, government agencies, industrial clients, and homeowners.
2. Proficiency Testing: Proficiency testing programs for laboratories (WSLH Proficiency Testing), providing quality assurance materials and evaluation services to other testing laboratories.
3. Government Funding: Operational funding from University of Wisconsin-Madison, federal grants (OSHA, CDC), and cooperative agreements with Bureau of Labor Statistics for occupational injury data collection.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

WSLH is a state public health laboratory providing comprehensive fee-for-service testing across clinical diagnostics (newborn screening, cytogenetics, cytology, clinical metals), environmental and water analysis (microbiology, PFAS, radiochemistry, trace elements), occupational health industrial hygiene (asbestos, bioaerosols, silica, metals, pesticides, solvents), forensic toxicology, and proficiency testing programs. Services are delivered to healthcare providers, government agencies, industrial employers, laboratories, and Wisconsin citizens, supported by mandated newborn screening responsibilities and multiple federal/state accreditations.

Product overview

The Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH) operates as a comprehensive public and environmental health laboratory since 1903, offering a multi-module portfolio of testing services organized into distinct service lines. The core clinical division provides newborn screening (50+ disorders), cytogenetics/molecular genetics, cytology/Pap testing, and clinical metals analysis. The Wisconsin Occupational Health Laboratory (WOHL) subsidiary provides industrial hygiene testing including asbestos, bioaerosols (mold/bacteria/Legionella), metals, pesticides, silica, solvents, and gravimetric analysis services. Environmental testing covers water microbiology, inorganic/organic chemistry, toxicology, radiochemistry, PFAS, and wastewater surveillance. Additional services include forensic toxicology, proficiency testing programs, occupational safety statistics (BLS/SOII/CFOI), free WisCon safety consultations, and laboratory networks/surveillance. WOHL directly serves homeowners with asbestos, lead, and mold testing. The portfolio functions as an integrated laboratory ecosystem serving public health agencies, healthcare providers, employers, and Wisconsin citizens.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Wisconsin Occupational Health Laboratory (WOHL): Full-service industrial hygiene chemistry and environmental microbiology laboratory providing testing services for occupational health, including asbestos analysis, bioaerosols, metals, pesticides, silica, solvents, and lead testing for homeowners and businesses.

Products and services

• Clinical Testing Services
• Newborn Screening (NBS)
• UW Cytogenetics
• Cytology Laboratory
• Clinical Metals
• Water & Environmental Testing
• Wisconsin Occupational Health Laboratory (WOHL)
• WisCon Safety Consultation
• Forensic Toxicology
• Proficiency Testing
• Wisconsin Clinical Laboratory Network (WCLN)
• BLS Occupational Safety & Health Statistics (SOII/CFOI)
• Research Support Center
• Environmental Water Testing for Citizens

Quantifiable outcome

• Newborn screening for 50 disorders, hearing loss, and CCHD for all Wisconsin infants
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• University of Wisconsin-MadisoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWSLH is an integral part of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The lab is committed to exploring new ideas that benefit the state, nation, and world, embodying the Wisconsin Idea philosophy.
• Children's Oncology Group (COG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUW Cytogenetics is an active participant in the NCI-sponsored Children's Oncology Group, contributing to childhood cancer research and treatment.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCDC provided funding support for the X-Linked Adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) newborn screening demonstration project. WSLH participates in CDC ELITE program for Legionella testing.
• Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWSLH is an active member of APHL. Featured prominently in APHL's 2025 annual report with top stories having Wisconsin connection. Participates in APHL internship pool.
• U.S. Department of Labor - Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWisCon program operates through cooperative agreement between UW Madison and federal OSHA. Ninety percent of WisCon operational funding provided by OSHA grant. WSLH holds cooperative agreement with BLS for occupational injury data collection.
• Wisconsin Department of Health ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with DHS for newborn screening program, occupational health surveillance, lead poisoning prevention, and public health emergencies. Funding provided by CDC and DHS for WisCon public sector consultation.
• Wisconsin Department of Natural ResourcescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWSLH holds NR 149 certification from WDNR to perform environmental sample analysis. Also holds Reciprocal Certification through WDNR for EPA Region 5 states.
• Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection (WDATCP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWSLH certified by WDATCP for microbiological analysis of drinking water, including coliform testing for Wisconsin public water systems.
• Wisconsin Division of Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWSLH reports blood lead results to Wisconsin Division of Public Health as required by state law. Collaborates on Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• California Department of Public Health Laboratory: California's state-designated public health laboratory performing clinical diagnostics, environmental testing, newborn screening, and infectious disease surveillance. Operates the same state-public-health lab mandate as WSLH at a much larger scale.
• New York State Department of Health Wadsworth Center: New York's state public health reference laboratory providing clinical, environmental, and forensic toxicology testing with research integration. Closest functional peer to WSLH in service breadth and academic affiliation.
• Texas Department of State Health Services Laboratory: Texas's state public health laboratory providing newborn screening, environmental testing, and clinical diagnostics. Direct state-designated peer covering similar regulatory and testing scope.
• Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory: Massachusetts's state public health laboratory providing environmental, clinical, and emergency response testing services. Comparable state mandate and accreditation footprint.
• Florida Department of Health Bureau of Public Health Laboratories: Florida's state public health laboratory network performing newborn screening, environmental testing, and clinical diagnostics. Direct state-level peer with overlapping service lines.

Others

• Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL): National membership organization representing state and local public health laboratories. WSLH is a member, and APHL is the convening body through which WSLH earns national visibility (e.g., 2025 APHL Annual Report feature).

Broad incumbents

• Mayo Clinic Laboratories: Large reference laboratory offering esoteric clinical, cytogenetic, and newborn screening confirmatory testing. Competes with WSLH in higher-margin esoteric test segments while operating as a commercial enterprise rather than a state entity.
• Quest Diagnostics: National commercial reference laboratory providing clinical diagnostics, employer health, and environmental testing services. Competes with WSLH for clinical and occupational health testing volume across Wisconsin.
• Eurofins Scientific: Global testing services group with significant environmental, food, and clinical testing capacity. Competes with WSLH's environmental and clinical chemistry testing service lines through a commercial delivery model.
• SGS: Global testing, inspection, and certification company with environmental and life sciences service lines. Comparable to WSLH's environmental and accredited industrial hygiene testing operations, though commercially delivered.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/WSLH.HR.Staff
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wisconsin-state-lab-hygiene

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene