Health Lab Opening Delayed
JEFFERSON CITY - The opening of a new state health lab has been delayed for nearly a year. Officials have been working to fix a problem with the building's ventilation system. The $30 million public health lab's system sucks air too forcibly. The problem was discovered late last summer, and workers have remained in the old building. State officials say the state spent more than one million dollars to fix the problem. The Health Department now plans to occupy the new lab in June. The state is negotiating with the architectural firm on who will ultimately pay the cost. The state health lab performs more than one million tests a year on everything from newborn genetic screenings to biohazardous materials.