The Florida Department of Health’s Bureau of Public Health Laboratories (BPHL) is an authorized continuing education provider for clinical laboratorian and conducts workshops and seminars on a variety of laboratory topics.
Courses eligible for continuing education credits (CEU) are also available online, free of charge.
There are many courses in TRAIN Florida and in CDC TRAIN and some provide CEU credits. Registration in TRAIN is free and most courses are free.
TRAIN Florida
TRAIN Florida is an online learning management system that provides training and learning opportunities to public health professionals.
HIV/AIDS (required for clinical lab personnel licensure)
- Video and Test: HIV Course 2024-2026
- Video and Transcript: Medical Errors FY 2024-2026
- Test: Medical Errors FY 2024-2026 Quiz
Specimen Collection
BPHL now offers self-paced specimen collection trainings through TRAIN Florida to assist with new hire trainings and continuing education for current staff. The learning series can be found by searching for ID: 1126979 or searching for FDOH BPHL Specimen Collection Training.
Current Courses Offered
- FDOH BPHL General Specimen Collection
- FDOH BPHL Specimen Collection – CT/GC, MGEN, and TRICH
- FDOH BPHL Specimen Collection – HIV
- FDOH BPHL Specimen Collection – Hepatitis
- FDOH BPHL Specimen Collection – Syphilis
There are more courses being developed to be launched in the near future.
Infectious Substances Packaging and Shipping
Registration is now open in TRAIN for 2026 classes. The course ID# for 2026 is 1133970. Please see the registration guide for assistance.
BPHL, through CDC’s Cooperative Agreement Grant for Public Health Emergency Preparedness, Division 6.2, Infectious Substances Packaging and Shipping Training for our Sentinel Laboratory partners, including hospital and county health department laboratory personnel and non-sentinel laboratory personnel if space is available. This training is open to personnel who are responsible for packaging and shipping infectious substances and diagnostic specimens.
Participants will learn how to properly package and ship Category A and Category B infectious substances and other dangerous goods such as dry ice by air and ground in accordance with prescribed guidelines.
- Infectious Substances Packaging and Shipping Training is required every two years to maintain certification.
- Space is limited and advance registration is required. For assistance, contact the team at BPHLBSO@flhealth.gov or 813-233-2367
First Responders Sample Collection
This training program, provided to HazMat technicians and emergency responders, provides direction for the safe and effective collection and transport of any suspected biological environmental sample. This training includes a sample collection demonstration and practice using collection methods as per ASTM E2458-17 and details the rationale and importance of sample analysis at the Florida Department of Health Bureau of Public Health Laboratory LRN-B laboratories.
The program is offered to all HazMat teams and first responders who may be involved in environmental sample collection. To schedule a course, please contact the team at BPHLBSO@flhealth.gov or 813-233-2367. Courses are held onsite at your facility or live online, and shift rotations are accommodated.
- All environmental samples that are submitted to a BPHL LRN-B laboratory must be accompanied by the Domestic Security Environmental Sample Submission Form.
Laboratory Response Network – Biological Defense
BPHL is offering an LRN sentinel laboratory training course at no cost. This training follows the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Sentinel Level Clinical Laboratory Protocols for Suspected Biological Threat Agents and Emerging Infectious Diseases.
Scheduling this training for your facility is an easy process. Determine when you would like to have the training and how many people will be attending. A time will be set up that is convenient for all. The training materials are provided, as well as the biodefense reference manuals for your laboratory.
The training syllabus includes:
- An overview of the LRN
- Biosafety risk assessment and biosafety for the clinical laboratory
- ASM protocols for ruling out potential bioterrorism agents and how to refer a sample to the state LRN Public Health Reference Laboratory when a bioterrorism agent cannot be ruled out
- Introduction to CDC’s Select Agent Program
This class awards Florida clinical laboratory continuing education credits based on five hours of instruction.
Contact your local trainer at BPHLBSO@flhealth.gov or 813-233-2367 to schedule a class for your facility today.
Chemical Threat Preparedness
Chemical threat laboratory coordinators continue to reach out to the health and medical community by offering training for preparedness at hospitals and county health departments (CHD).
This training covers chemical terrorism awareness and the collection and shipping of clinical specimens after a chemical threat event. Hospital and CHD staff play an important role in the response to a chemical exposure event when clinical specimens are collected for analysis.
- This course last approximately one hour and can be presented at your facility.
- Training manuals and “hands-on” exercise materials will be provided.
- This training is recommended for physicians, nurses, epidemiologists, emergency department personnel, phlebotomists, hospital, health department laboratory personnel, and others who may collect clinical specimens.
To schedule a class for your facility, contact Angela Ren at 813-233-2293 or Madeline Thomas at 904-791-1525.