The Scientific Laboratory Division (SLD) provides laboratory analysis and scientific expertise for public health policy development, environment and toxicology programs in New Mexico. SLD provides timely identification in order to prevent, identify, and respond to threats to public health and safety from emerging and unusual infectious diseases in humans, animals, water, food, and dairy, as well as chemical and radiological hazards in drinking water systems and environmental water, air, and soil. In addition, the laboratory performs drug testing and provides expert witness testimony for forensic investigations of DWI/DUID and cause of death from drugs and infectious disease. SLD is the primacy bioterrorism and chemical terrorism response laboratory for the state and provides training for clinical laboratories throughout New Mexico.

New Mexico statute dictates that the Scientific Laboratory Division is the primacy laboratory for the New Mexico Department of Health, the New Mexico Environment Department, and the New Mexico Department of Agriculture.

The Scientific Laboratory Division (SLD) is New Mexico’s official 1) public health, 2) environmental monitoring and 3) forensic toxicology laboratory. In the above roles, the Scientific Laboratory Division operates the following programs:

• Infectious disease reference testing laboratory for NMDOH, NM hospitals and clinical labs;
• Primacy NM regulatory drinking water testing laboratory for EPA and NM Environment Department;
• Regulatory air testing laboratory for NM Environment Department and City of Albuquerque;
• Primacy NM regulatory dairy testing laboratory for FDA and NM Department of Agriculture;
• Veterinary infectious disease reference testing laboratory for the NMD Ag’s Veterinary Diagnostic Services;
• Food borne infectious disease testing laboratory;
• Certification inspectors for private dairy and dairy testing laboratories for the NM Environment Department and the NM Dept. Agriculture;
• DWI/DUID alcohol and drug testing laboratory;
• State toxicology expert witnesses for DWI/DUID criminal cases;
• Certifying authority for NM law enforcement officers for breath alcohol testing;
• Bio- and chemical terrorism response laboratory for New Mexico;
• Disease and drug testing laboratory for the NM Office of the Medical Examiner.

FY17 OPERATING BUDGET: $12,920,500

• General Funds: $8,015,900
• Other Transfers: $1,168,400
• Federal Funds: $2,368,000
• Other State Funds: $1,368,200

During the first quarter, some of SLD’s accomplishments included:

Chemistry Bureau:

• The Chemical Threat and Response Section finalized the testing for the Four Corners Biomonitoring project, which is a collaboration between Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico and is funded by the CDC. Private well users were recruited from the Four Corners region to have their well water and urine samples tested for toxic metals, which includes metals such as arsenic, uranium and mercury. Households with high levels of toxic metals were advised to implement water treatment. This project allowed SLD to improve upon established analytical methods for human samples and will give New Mexico the capacity to respond for future biomonitoring events.

Biological Sciences Bureau:

• The Biological Sciences Bureau (BSB) improved the turnaround time for Zika testing since the MAC-ELISA test was brought on in early July 2016. CDC turnaround time was approximately 3-5 weeks where SLD’s current turnaround time is 3-5 days.
• BSB responded to a Shigella outbreak in a daycare involving children and their parents as well as three plague cases with two cases in animals and one in a human.

Toxicology Bureau:

• The Toxicology Bureau implemented a new procedure that confirms and quantitates for Buprenorphine. This drug is used in the treatment of opioid addiction, such as heroin and oxycodone, but it may also be used to treat pain. Buprenorphine has impairing effects that can affect the way a person drives a motor vehicle.