A genetic surveillance system comprises a communications network and at least one reader-analyzer instrument. The reader-analyzer instrument has a communication interface to communicate over the network. The reader-analyzer instrument is adapted to perform genetic assay analysis of a sample obtained from a member of a population and to generate detection-related data based upon the analysis. The reader-analyzer instrument is adapted to associate qualifying information with the detection-related data and to communicate the associated qualifying information and detection-related data over the network.