National laboratory system of the Republic of Korea

Kim Hyun Yeong, Kim Min Jun, Rhee Jee Eun, Kim Gab Jung, Yoo Cheon-Kwon
Division of Laboratory Diagnosis Management, Center for Laboratory Control of Infectious Diseases, KCDC

The national laboratory system is an integral part of the public health sector and performs important functions, such as laboratory-based tests for infectious diseases, to scientifically identify the causes of infectious diseases and respond swiftly. In Korea, infectious disease laboratories are designated by the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, and each institute carries out its own role in infectious disease laboratory inspections.
Institutions performing laboratory inspections are prescribed in the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act. Public institutions include the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), National Quarantine Stations, Research Institutes of Public Health and Environment (RIPHEs), and Public Health Centers. Private institutions include clinics/hospitals. Private institutions conduct their own inspections using in-vitro diagnostic medical devices licensed under the Medical Divices Act. Infectious diseases that cannot be examined by private institutions are inspected by the RIPHEs or KCDC according to the national laboratory system. In particular, the KCDC develops standard test methods for infectious diseases that are difficult to test in the private sector, as well as carries out education and evaluation of public health laboratories to ensure prompt and accurate inspections at RIPHEs. Infectious disease inspections that cannot be examined by private institutions or RIPHEs are carried out directly by the KCDC.
The Republic of Korea is equipped with a national laboratory system to diagnose quickly and efficiently infectious diseases that occur in Korea, thereby protecting public health and responding to public health crises. KCDC is establishing a legal basis for systematic administration of the National Infectious Disease Inspection System, which will conduct more rapid and accurate infectious disease laboratory tests at the national level and enhance the reliability of the tests.

Keywords: National laboratory system, Public health, Infectious diseases