The primary mission of the Disease Control Division is to test human specimens, food and water for diseases of public health significance to protect the citizens of Iowa. The Hygienic Laboratory supports numerous programs to prevent and control communicable disease, participates in epidemiologic investigations of disease outbreaks, and serves as a reference laboratory for clinical testing. These services help prevent the spread of disease in Iowa through the detection of infectious organisms, and help families through newborn screening for genetic disorders and maternal screening.