National Microbiology Laboratory: About us

On this page

• Overview
• Networks
• Locations and services

Overview

The National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) is a branch within the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and is known around the world for its scientific excellence. We work with public health partners in Canada and abroad to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

We are the central pillar of public health laboratory science in Canada.

Our activities are organized into 6 main areas:

1. diagnostic and reference testing
2. laboratory-based infectious disease surveillance
3. emergency preparedness and response
4. research
5. leadership, training network, and capacity development
6. laboratory science support services

Our vision, mission, mandate and leadership goals

Vision: A world-class laboratory science organization dedicated to the protection of Canadian and global public health.

Mission: Advance human health through laboratory leadership, scientific excellence and public health innovation.

Mandate: Identification, investigation, control, and prevention of infectious diseases.

Networks

Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network

The Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network is a place for national public health lab professionals to share knowledge and best practices. It supports rapid, organized nationwide lab responses to contagious diseases such as:

• E.coli infections
• respiratory outbreaks such as:
  • SARS
  • COVID-19
  • pandemic flu
• tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease
• sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections such as syphilis

Learn more:

• Canadian Public Health Laboratory Network

Canadian Network for Public Health Intelligence

This secure, web-based network allows public health professionals to gather, analyze and share knowledge in real-time. This helps public health responders, decision-makers and researchers work together quickly and effectively. To date, the network has successfully developed an innovative public health informatics and bio surveillance platform that includes a large number of applications, such as:

• a national disease-specific alerting system
• resource centres for local and global groups to collaborate
• purpose-built disease surveillance systems for human, animal, and environmental health
• monitoring systems for infectious diseases or other threats to public health and safety

Learn more:

• Log in to the Canadian Network for Public Health Intelligence
• Canadian Network for Public Health Intelligence (infographic)

Community Liaison Committee

The Community Liaison Committee provides a forum that helps create and maintain an atmosphere of public trust, confidence and cooperation between the Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health and the surrounding Winnipeg community. The centre is home to the:

• Public Health Agency of Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency's National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease

The committee is composed of representatives from:

• the Public Health Agency of Canada
• the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
• local community members

The committee helps to ensure an open and transparent information exchange with local community groups.

Learn more:

• Community Liaison Committee

Locations and services

We have 4 main sites in Canada:

1. Manitoba: Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health
2. Manitoba: JC Wilt Infectious Diseases Research Centre
3. Ontario: National Microbiology Laboratory at Guelph
4. Quebec: National Microbiology Laboratory at St. Hyacinthe

We provide the following services:

• Professional laboratory services
• International Depository Authority of Canada

Related links

Science of Health blogs

• Two decades of impactful Marburg virus research at the National Microbiology Laboratory
• Scientists and students unite on the hunt for invasive mosquitoes
• The National Microbiology Laboratory helps to bring modified Lyme disease testing techniques to Canada
• From the field to the lab: The National Microbiology Laboratory tackles deadly mouse disease
• Keeping an eye on bird flu
• The National Microbiology Laboratory combats HIV drug resistance with research and testing
• Study from the National Microbiology Laboratory shows promising results for mpox (monkeypox) treatment
• Community-led wastewater testing in northern, remote and isolated communities
• Canada's COVID-19 Variant Hunters
• Detecting diseases earlier: National Microbiology Laboratory collaborates with developing countries to detect emerging pathogens
• When COVID-19 surges, federal labs boost Canada's testing capacity
• 3D models provide insight into the behaviour of COVID-19 variants
• Math saves lives: How scientists use modelling to guide COVID-19 decision-making
• COVID-19: Examining the National Microbiology Laboratory's role in serology testing
• Point-of-care testing brings rapid COVID-19 testing to underserved communities
• Harnessing the power of wastewater testing to detect COVID-19 outbreaks
• COVID-19: Putting the National Microbiology Laboratory to the test
• The Q and A of QA: How the National Microbiology Laboratory uses quality assurance to produce quality research
• Level 4 laboratories with Lab 101: What does it take to house the world's deadliest diseases?