MOTTO Detection Prevention Protection Surveillance Assessment Innovation MANDATE Act as the provincial laboratory centre for infectious disease surveillance and control. Provide a comprehensive range of specialized and reference laboratory services in clinical and public health microbiology and infectious disease epidemiology to the province. Pursue research and development activities in the above areas. ROLE AND FUNCTION Provincial reference laboratory centre for clinical and public health microbiology and infectious disease epidemiology. Laboratory, consultative, educational and training services in the detection, prevention, surveillance and control of infectious diseases. Specialized and reference laboratory services in clinical and public health microbiology to all physicians, hospitals, clinics and health-related agencies in the province. Laboratory and consultative services in outbreak investigation and control. Laboratory-based surveillance of communicable disease incidence and prevalence. Research and development activities in the areas of infectious disease epidemiology, immunization, community health, clinical and public health microbiology. Maintenance of expertise in the above areas, rapid response to exigencies and provision of timely information to help guide provincial and national policy.