The State Hygienic Laboratory is the second healthiest public health lab in the nation, according to the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL).

Director Christopher Atchison (center) and Associate Director Bonnie Rubin receive the award as runner-up in the Association of Public Health Laboratories' Healthiest Lab Initiative. Warren Hendrickson (right) of award sponsor HDR presented the award.

APHL presented the second place award for its Healthiest Laboratory Initiative in May at its annual meeting in Seattle. Virginia's Fairfax County Health Department Laboratory and the Unified Utah State Laboratories received first place and honorable mention, respectively.

APHL began the Healthiest Laboratory Initiative in 2009 as part of its commitment to the advancement of environmental stewardship and health promotion within the public laboratory practice. HDR, an architectural firm specializing in laboratory design, sponsors the award.

Labs competing for the award submitted their answers to APHL's 75-question self-assessment checklist. The questions targeted environmental improvement and personal health promotion in the laboratory. The Hygienic Lab received many of its "personal health" points due to its participation in the University of Iowa's staff wellness program, which promotes exercise, health screening, smoking cessation, and proper diet and weight.

The Lab's safety training programs and provision of various types of safety equipment earned it high scores in the clinical safety section of the questionnaire. More points were received due to the new Coralville facility's health aspects, including showers, bike storage, natural lighting throughout most of the building, and the use of environmentally friendly cleaning products.