Introduction

Given their size and resources, most Pacific Island countries would not be able to sustain a dedicated public health laboratory (although all provide at least basic clinical diagnostic services). Furthermore, the regional resources necessary to establish and sustain a new Pacific-wide public health laboratory are not likely to be available. For these reasons, PPHSN decided to elicit the support of a small group of existing laboratories to provide public health laboratory services for all Pacific Island countries for the six initial target diseases (dengue, measles, influenza, leptospirosis, cholera and typhoid). These ‘Level 2’ public health laboratories (in Fiji Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, and New Caledonia) are further supported, when necessary, by Level 3 reference laboratories on the Pacific-rim countries (‘Level’ refers to functional level within this LabNet initiative, not to level of capacity or competence).

Diagrammatic representation of LabNet (click on the image to enlarge it)