National infectious disease diagnostic testing system

National Laboratory System

Composition

The national infectious disease diagnostic testing system establishes an organic cooperative system between public institutions* and private medical institutions** to ensure early detection of infectious diseases and prevent their spread * Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Regional Disease Response Centers, 17 City and Provincial Health and Environment Research Institutes, Health Centers ** Hospitals, Clinics, Contract Testing Institutions

Role

Private hospitals conduct tests through their own laboratories or contract testing institutions, while public institutions such as health and environment research institutes perform tests for infectious diseases that cannot be tested in the private sector.

Roles of Each Institution

Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency

Establishes national policies related to diagnostic testing for infectious diseases, manages and supervises the system, develops, verifies, and disseminates laboratory testing methods, and performs pathogen identification tests, analysis, and monitoring, fulfilling the role of a national reference laboratory

Disease Response Center

Performs diagnostic and analytical tasks for quarantinable infectious diseases within the jurisdiction and acts as a coordinator for testing.

City and Provincial Health and Environment Research Institutes

As public laboratories, conduct diagnostic testing for infectious diseases and pathogen surveillance within the jurisdiction in collaboration with private medical institutions.

Public Health Centers

Report outbreaks of infectious diseases reported by medical institutions, manage and supervise medical institutions, and conduct tests for certain infectious diseases.

Korea Disease Control and revention Agency
- Development and establishment of national policies, plans, and standards for infectious disease laboratory testing
- Management and supervision of the national laboratory system
- Development, validation, and dissemination of laboratory testing and analytical methods for pathogens and vectors
- Operate pathogen surveillance system for infectious diseases and vectors
Regional Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Implementation of infectious disease laboratory testing and pathogen surveillance within region
Public health and environment research institute
- Implementation of infectious disease laboratory testing and pathogen surveillance within province
Public health center
- Reporting and management of prioty diseases
- Conducting simple tests for infectious disease
- Management and supervision of private medical institutions