WSLH Research Support Center

WSLH Analytical Services and Capabilities

 

The Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene (WSLH) provides clinical, environmental and occupational laboratory expertise to a wide variety of academic, health-care, governmental and private-sector organizations at the international, national, state and local levels.  An expanded list of instrumentation including capabilities and sample/specimen sources can be found here - Clinical and Environmental Testing Instrumentation.

Founded in 1903, the WSLH is part of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Many staff hold faculty appointments in the UW School of Medicine and Public Health (www.med.wisc.edu), the College of Engineering (www.engr.wisc.edu) and the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (www.cals.wisc.edu). 

The WSLH clinical laboratories offer an array of diagnostic testing options with a wide range of technologies including:

 

  • Molecular real-time PCR
  • Pyrosequencing
  • Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (DNA fingerprinting)
  • Drug susceptibility testing
  • Cytogenetic analysis of clinical specimens
  • Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis
  • Array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH)
  • Molecular testing for Fragile X syndrome, Prader-Willi/Angelman Syndromes and common chromosomal rearrangements in hematologic malignancies

The WSLH environmental and occupational health laboratories include organic and inorganic chemistry, environmental toxicology, forensic toxicology, clinical metals toxicology, radiochemistry, bio-aerosols and water microbiology.

Specialized instrumentation in these laboratories is being used to analyze human specimens for exposure to toxic substances in the environment, as well as for other environmental and occupational health issues. Research includes support for clinical cancer studies, evaluation of fine air particulates and diesel emissions, biomonitoring and environmental toxicology studies on endocrine disruptors.

Specialized instrumentation includes:

  • Ultra-low level trace elements clean laboratory
  • Scanning transmission electron microscopy
  • Inductively coupled plasma/high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-ICP-MS)
  • High performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS)
  • Gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR-GC-MS)

An expanded list of instrumentation including capabilities and sample/specimen sources can be found here. The WSLH collects and stores vast amounts of clinical specimens and environmental samples with potential for numerous prospective and retrospective research studies.

WSLH scientists are also actively involved with new test method development, and the WSLH partners with private-sector firms to beta test and validate new testing technologies.

For more information on our capabilities or to discuss potential research projects, please contact the WSLH Research Support Center at 608-890-1093 or research@slh.wisc.edu

 

 

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