Cooperation and collaboration of laboratories in this region is important in facing emerging infectious diseases threat. Initial discussions on issues and concerns that need to be addressed on laboratory networking have been done by ASEAN Plus Three Countries in the Phase I and Inception Stage of Phase II of the EID Programme.

Under the ASEAN Plus Three Emerging Infectious Disease Programme Phase II, the ASEAN Plus Three Workshop on Development of Laboratory Based Surveillance and Strengthening Regional Laboratory Networking held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 11-13 August 2008 developed the Protocol for Regional Laboratory Based Surveillance of Selected Pathogens (13 pathogens were already selected and Standard Operating Procedures developed).

The First Regional Meeting of ASEAN Plus Three Partnership Laboratories (APL) held in Singapore on 14-15 September 2009 adopted the Terms of Reference for APLs and agreed to develop a work plan for the APLs. The workplan is to include activities according to Terms of Reference of APLs, as well as activities related to regional laboratory based surveillance, and will be submitted to ASEAN Expert Group on Communicable Diseases (AEGCD) for endorsement.

The ASEAN Plus Three Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) Programme under the ASEAN Secretariat, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Brunei Darussalam and supported by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases (NIID) of Japan and AusAID, is organizing a Planning Workshop on ASEAN Plus Three Partnership Laboratories (APL) on 17-18 February 2010 in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. 

ASEAN Plus Three National Laboratory Contact Point Persons, representatives in charge of surveillance data management, as well as animal health laboratory representatives from the ASEAN Plus Three Countries are expected to attend the 2-day Workshop.