Public Health Laboratory
El Dorado County Public Health ensures that biologic-specimen testing is performed for certain diseases of public health concern. A number of diseases are legally reportable to Public Health by hospital or clinic laboratories and medical providers. In some situations, Public Health is required to send a biologic specimen taken from someone who has been diagnosed with a reportable disease to another public health lab for further testing. Although (as of May 1, 2017) we no longer perform these tests in our Placerville laboratory, we still receive those specimens and ensure that they are delivered to the appropriate place. [Note that these activities do not often directly involve members of the public. Rarely, and only upon request by Public Health, a member of the general public may be asked to provide a clinical specimen directly to our laboratory.]
For Medical Providers and Clinical Laboratories
Although, as of May 1, 2017, we no longer perform laboratory testing in Placerville, Public Health staff members continue to be available to assist with medical or environmental testing questions, either directly or through consultation.
Water Testing
Many members of the public, businesses, and agents for property-owners who need their potable water to be tested have historically brought water samples to 931 Spring St. for water-testing, but as of May 1, 2017, we ceased performing this operation. El Dorado County has been home to another approved water-testing laboratory, Water Environmental Testing Laboratory, Inc., California Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP) Certification #2082, that offers two drop-off locations (in Placerville and Cameron Park). Call 530-667-5776 for more information. This information is listed as a convenience to county residents, not as an endorsement. Other commercial ELAP-certified laboratories that offer water-testing to the public can be found on the State Water Board’s Geographic Information System mapping tool.
For information about Laboratory service, please call 530-621-6100.