Background Information

The evolution of the Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network (CPHLN) began in 1949 with the creation of the Technical Advisory Committee on Public Health Laboratory Services (TAC). Membership included representation from Provincial Public Health Laboratories, the National Laboratory of Hygiene, and the departments of Veterans Affairs and National Defence.

Operated by a secretariat appointed by the Deputy Minister of National Health, TAC was formed to avoid the expense of maintaining regional field laboratories. TAC’s duties and functions were to assist and advise the Minister of National Health and Welfare on matters relating to public health laboratory services and to facilitate co-operation and information sharing between the federal and provincial members.

The dissolution of the TAC in 1994 created a void in communications among public health laboratories in Canada. In 2001 a group of provincial public health laboratory directors communed to address this void. Their effort led to the creation of the Canadian Public Health Laboratory Forum.  Over the next two years the Forum worked to address issues relating to pubic health such as food and water safety, bioterrorism and emerging pathogens. 

The SARS outbreak of 2003 highlighted the need for a formalized, coordinated system to manage the interworking of public health laboratories in Canada. Under the direction of the National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) the Forum became the Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network.

The CPHLN is currently managed by a secretariat that works diligently to create and maintain strong working relationships with and between our member organizations and our global partners.