Technical Assistance for Micronutrient Surveys

At a glance

CDC provides training and technical assistance to international public health organizations on sample analysis and field logistics for national nutrition surveys.

Photo of scientist working in the lab
Photo of scientist working in the lab

Support for global micronutrient laboratories

Billions of people around the world have micronutrient deficiencies that could cause birth defects, learning and intellectual disabilities, premature death, or other health problems.

CDC's Environmental Health Laboratory operates the Global Micronutrient Laboratory, which plays an active role in reducing the worldwide burden of micronutrient deficiencies, such as deficiencies in iodine, iron, or vitamin A. The laboratory provides training and technical assistance to international public health organizations on sample analysis and field logistics for national nutrition surveys. This support improves the quality of laboratory test results and ensures actionable survey findings.

Over the years, CDC's efforts have reached nutrition surveys in Argentina the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Iraq, Kenya, Laos, Malawi, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Yemen, and Zambia.