Get ready for Lab Week! APHL will be joining our members and partners in celebrating the hard work and dedication of public health laboratory staff keeping us safe and healthy every day.
We wanted to let you know about a bit of a change starting this year. Because we can’t possibly fit all of our appreciation into one week, APHL’s primary appreciation event of the year will now be Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month in September. Yes, we are still observing Lab Week with the entire laboratory community! But we will use the majority of our resources to ensure that Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month is our paramount celebration each year. Be sure to mark your calendars in September for Public Health Laboratory Appreciation Month!
Below are some fun ways you can participate in the celebration! Please be sure to use #LabWeek and #ThanksPHLabs to join the online celebration.
Follow APHL on:
- APHL Off the Bench (Facebook group)
Flat Labby Fun
Most of you have probably met Flat Labby already. But if you haven’t, here is Flat Labby’s origin story and how you can invite them to join in your celebration.
Coloring is a great way to relax and have some fun. Print these coloring pages and share with others around the lab! Flat Labby Coloring Pages
Take Flat Labby on exciting adventures around the lab or around town! Cut out a printable Flat Labby, choose whatever clothes you like (or maybe take a few outfits!) and set off on an adventure together. Be sure to post pictures on Instagram, Twitter or in our Facebook group, APHL Off the Bench using #FlatLabby. Flat Labby printable paper doll

Downloadable Graphics
- Lab Week – Instagram
- Lab Week general – Twitter
- Lab Week general – Facebook
- Lab Week – Facebook/Instagram Story
- Lab Week – LinkedIn
Lab Week 2022 printable poster
Sample Social Media Posts
DYK? Public health laboratory teams work to monitor and detect health threats from #COVID19 to rabies, dengue fever to radiological contaminants, genetic disorders in newborns to terrorist agents…and more. Be sure to say #ThanksPHLabs this #LabWeek! https://bit.ly/LabWeek22
What is a public health laboratory? Check out this fun video that explains what makes public health labs unique: https://vimeo.com/aphl/whatisphl #LabWeek #ThanksPHLabs
Environmental testing lab staff work to keep your community healthy and safe every day. But what is an environmental testing laboratory? https://vimeo.com/aphl/whatisEHlab #LabWeek #ThanksPHLabs #environmentalhealth
#COVID19 is an emerging infectious disease, but what does that mean? When an infectious disease emerges, how do public health laboratory scientists respond to contain the threat? https://vimeo.com/aphl/eid #LabWeek #ThanksPHLabs
Have you heard about the newly-expanded APHL-CDC Fellowship and Internship prgm? There are great opportunities w/public health labs around the US. Follow us to know when applications are being accepted. For more: https://aphl.org/Fellowships #APHLfellowship #LabWeek #ThanksPHLabs
DYK? Public health lab scientists test 97% of the more than four million newborns born in the US each year – that’s a lot of babies! Here are some answers to common questions about newborn screening: http://bit.ly/APHLNBSFAQ #LabWeek #ThanksPHLabs #NewbornScreening
Hi!
I loved the 2023 PH appreciation month toolkit/themes this year. I was looking back to see what the 2023 “Lab Week” theme/toolkit was and only see up to 2022. We are starting our planning for the 2024 Lab Week and wonder if there will be a theme this year or any insight about what will be released. I know it’s early, but wanted to know if we should wait until a theme is released or plan on our own? Thanks!