1. PIHOA Regional Lab Coordinator PIHOA 60th Meeting - Honolulu, HI
THE PIHOA REGIONAL LAB INITIATIVE - Historical Milestones and Achievements –
Ms. Vasiti Uluiviti
PIHOA Regional Lab Coordinator
PIHOA 60th Meeting - Honolulu, HI
Aug 30th – Sept 1st 2016

2. Overview
The PIHOA Lab Network
Historical milestones and achievements
Statement of challenges

3. PIHOA Regional Lab Initiative Association of USAPI Labs (AUL)
The PIHOA Lab Network
PAL
ASA
THC
CHK
ASA
LBJTMC
CLIA-regulated
PIHOA Regional Lab Initiative
PNI
CNMI
CLIA-waived
Association of USAPI Labs (AUL)
KOS
GPHL
Non-regulated
YAP
EBE
MAJ
All (except GPHL) provide both public health & clinical lab services

4. Major Milestones of Achievements
2003
PIHOA BoD agreed to “Ensure provision of core public health laboratory services for the USAPI for cholera, typhoid, syphilis, HIV, dengue, influenza, measles, rubella, leptospirosis, & agents of BT for the USAPI”
2005
PIHOA regional lab coordinator hired
2006
PIHOA Board Resolution #41-06
“Recognizing the importance of supporting the continuation of the PIHOA/Guam Regional Public Health Lab”
PIHOA Board Resolution #41-07
“Recognizing the region’s surveillance system to promote early detection and notification of early outbreaks”
2006

5. Major Milestones of Achievements
2007
CDC multi-program funding of PIHOA Regional Lab Project
Department of Interior re-establish PIHOA Revolving Fund
PIHOA – Diagnostic Lab Services (DLS) partnership [TB Lab Services subcontract)
CDC multi-program funding of PIHOA Regional Lab Project (cont’d)
2010
APHL – PIHOA partnership (CDC Influenza Division funding PIHOA Regional Lab Project)
USAPI – HSLD partnership (USAPI refer influenza specimens to HSLD)
PIHOA #48-03 Board Resolution – “Strengthening lab systems in the PIHOA-member states”
USAPI LQMS Assessments

6. PIHOA – ASTHO partnership USAPI LQMS Assessments
PIHOA – ASTHO partnership
USAPI LQMS Assessments
2014
Lab Quality Management System (LQMS) Strengthening [ASTHO]
2015
Lab Quality Management System (LQMS) Strengthening [ASTHO]
PIHOA #57-01 Board Resolution – “Concerning Lab Preparedness among PIHOA member States to support shipping Ebola and/or highly infectious disease specimens for reference public health laboratory testing; and/or other emergent outbreak/situations”
USAPIs finance PIHOA Revolving Fund
2016
Microbiology enhancement & skill-up training [ASTHO]
USAPI Regional Training of Trainers for shippers of infectious substances
2017
Strengthening Lab Management Towards Accreditation (SLMTA) implementation

7. Statement of Challenges
I. To achieve lab accreditation in the USAPI, a sustainable human resource plan is a priority II. Monopoly of supply procurements through vendor systems and stringent in-country vendor requirements have proven to be an expensive exercise for all USAPI labs III. Lack of food laboratory testing facilities for the USAPI hinder timely public health food safety incident response. IV. Funding assistance to sustain the regional lab testing capacity at the Guam Public Health Laboratory IS A NEED. V. Lab preparedness in response to BT events is still unclear – from specimen collection to air transportation.

8. Thank you