Department of General Services

To better serve the people of Pennsylvania, the state is building a new joint laboratory facility and campus combining four critical state departments, requiring flexible and adaptable labs for research and analysis. The project is foundational in elevating public health and safety infrastructure.

The new lab building will modernize laboratory facilities and help the Commonwealth more efficiently and effectively meet the need for public health testing, food safety testing, plant disease diagnostics and air- and water-quality testing.

The four state departments are:

• Department of Agriculture encourages, protects and promotes agriculture and related industries throughout the commonwealth while providing consumer protection through inspection services that impact the health and financial security of Pennsylvania’s citizens. Labs include plant pathogen, food safety/security, botany, seed and entomology.
• Department of Environmental Protection protects Pennsylvania’s air, land and water from pollution and to provide for the health and safety through a cleaner environment. Labs include the Bureau of Laboratories (organic, radiation measurement, biological services, and inorganic services), radiation protection, clean water, safe drinking water and air quality.
• Department of Health supports disease prevention and control through investigatory, diagnostic and confirmatory or through specialized testing for conditions and diseases of public health concern. Labs consist of three divisions: the Division of Chemistry and Toxicology, the Division of Clinical Microbiology, and the Division of Laboratory Improvement.
• Department of Conservation and Natural Resources provides information on the state’s ecological and geologic resources. Labs include botany, forest health, entomology and zoology