WINDSOR, ONT. -- The local health unit is worried that timely detection of diseases and outbreaks in the community could be in jeopardy with the announced closure of the regional public health laboratory in Windsor at the end of the year.

Medical Officer of Health Dr. Allen Heimann says he's very concerned about the impact the closure will have on the turnover of lab tests for illnesses such as tuberculosis and influenza, as well as bacteria and viruses responsible for other respiratory and gastrointestinal outbreaks.
http://www.windsorstar.com/health/Windsor+public+health+close/2473589/story.html

Seems to be a pretty big blow to Windsor's health care infrastructure. that doesn't seem really good.

For sure!

Not sure if I heard this right but a radio newscast said the place does 20% of the province's testing. Seems high?
Not good for Windsor one way or the other.

yeah seems like all those people are gonna have to find else where for employment. Its rather sad.

I am not really sure about this issue---I would like to see some numbers about cost, efficiency etc. I don't know why we need so much duplication of services. Every hospital has their own lab, there are many private labs, even some doctor offices and pharmacies have their own lab. Years ago(back in the seventies) when we had 4 hospitals --two of them (Grace and IODE) banded together and combined their lab facilities so that they reduced costs and avoided duplication of services --there was no reduction in service within the hospitals --just the cost.