Laredo Public Health regrets to announce the discontinuation of free COVID-19 PCR testing services effective August 31^st,2023.

The Laboratory Services Division provides testing in order to assist in the diagnosis of disease conditions and treatment of patients. Services consist of analysis of clinical bacteriology, medical serology, parasitology, environmental bacteriology, hematology, urinalysis and clinical chemistry, and urine pregnancy tests. Water (bacteriological) analysis is available to the general public. This lab will also serve as a preliminary screener for biological threat in the prevention of bioterrorism. The Laboratory receives 12,000 specimens per year and 48,000 tests are performed annually.

Hours of Operation

For Testing
Monday - Friday
7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

For Results
Monday - Friday
11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Lab Testing Offered
For more information please call (956) 795-4908.

Biosafety Laboratory Level III (BSLIII)

Current CLHD Laboratory Capabilities

Clinical Laboratory provides testing in order to assist in the diagnosis of disease conditions and treatment of patients.

• Services consist of bacteriology, serology, chemistry, hematology, urinalysis, pregnancy testing, and fecal occult blood testing.

Environmental Laboratory consists of the bacteriological analysis on water samples.

• Drinking water is tested daily for presence/absence of coliforms.
• Effluent water is tested as required for coliform quantitation.

Bio Safety Level III (BSL3) will be able to process the following Biological Agents upon receiving LRN status.

• Bacillus anthracis (Anthrax)
• Yersinia Pestis (Plague)
• Francisella tularensis (Tularemia)
• Botulinum Toxin (Botulism)
• Brucella spp.(Brucellosis)
• Burkholderia spp.
• Ricin

Lab workers can do a number of tests to identify an unknown substance. One of those tests is called PCR (polymerase chain reaction). PCR tests for the presence of DNA unique to each disease agent. Test results usually take between 3 to 5 hours. PCR can confirm earlier screening tests.

Other Tests

• Anthrax – spore detection, bacteriological culture, motility, staining
• Tularensis – bacteriological culture
• Yersinia pestis – bacteriological culture, staining
• Brucellosis – bacteriological culture, motility