-17- 



The analyses of both the Galen and Warm Springs clinical labora- 

 tories revealed that neither of these facilities currently utilize 

 federal programs within their respective operations. The Council 

 was advised of several Department of Health, Education and Welfare 

 programs which offer cash grants and advisory services to upgrade 

 public health laboratory proficiency. The typical laboratory 

 technician, however, has neither the time nor the ability to ac- 

 tively seek federal grants. 



In discussing this problem with the Montana Federal-State Coordi- 

 nator,- it was pointed out that the Coordinator's office, having a 

 staff of two, must rely on the administrators of the various state 

 agencies to acquaint themselves with the provisions of federal 

 programs applicable to their particular operations. The head of 

 the Department of Institutions has assured the Council that, in 

 the future, he and the various institution administrators will 

 work more closely with the office of the Federal-State Coordinator 

 to examine federal programs which support state public health 

 laboratories. 



9. Laboratory Division - State Department of Health and Environ- 

 mental Sciences 



The Laboratory Division of the recently reorganized Department of 

 Health and Environmental Sciences is located in the east wing of 

 the Cogswell Building within the State Capitol Complex. In addi- 

 tion to the central lab, the Division supervises two branch lab- 

 oratories at Kalispell and Billings. The Division's Chemistry 

 Lab Bureau operates two mobile labs for testing water and air 

 quality in the field. 



The operations of the Laboratory Division consist of specialized 

 testing, support of public health activities, certification of 

 local health laboratories, and developmental research. 



Specialized testing includes such activities as virus diagnosis, 

 tuberculosis bacteriology, fluorescent antibody absorption testing 

 for syphilis, and salmonella sterotyping. Materials for testing 

 (blood, urine, tissues) are sent to the Laboratory Division from 

 physicians and other private and public health laboratories where 

 such reference work is beyond the submitter's area of competence. 

 Many specialized tests require unique procedures and equipment 

 which are not used enough to justify their expense at the local 

 level. 



The Laboratory Division supports activities of other public health 

 labs in the control of communicable diseases and activities in en- 

 vironmental sanitation such as microbiological control of drinking 

 water supplies, studies of air and water pollution, and investiga- 

 tion of outbreaks of disease caused by ingestion of contciminated 

 food. The Division also assists the Hospital and Medical Facilr 

 ities Division of the Department of Health and Environmental 

 Sciences with their inspection program as it concerns laboratory 

 facilities. Samples of water, soil, and air are sent to the lab 



