Detecting Emerging Infectious Diseases: An Overview of the Laboratory Response Network for Biological Threats. (November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Villanueva, Julie; Schweitzer, Beth; Odle, Marcella; Aden, Tricia
• Other Names: Ned-Sykes Renee M. guest-editor.; Pentella Michael A. guest-editor.; Salerno Reynolds M. guest-editor.; St. George Kirsten guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Public health reports. Volume 134:Number 2(2019)Supplement
• Page Start: 16S
• Page End: 21S
• Publication Date: 2019-11
• Subjects: public health preparedness -- emerging infectious diseases -- emergency preparedness -- laboratory -- terrorism -- counterterrorism -- bioterrorism; Public health -- United States -- Periodicals; 614.0973
• DOI: 10.1177/0033354919874354
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0033-3549

Abstract

The Laboratory Response Network (LRN) was established in 1999 to ensure an effective laboratory response to high-priority public health threats. The LRN for biological threats (LRN-B) provides a laboratory infrastructure to respond to emerging infectious diseases. Since 2012, the LRN-B has been involved in 3 emerging infectious disease outbreak responses. We evaluated the LRN-B role in these responses and identified areas for improvement. LRN-B laboratories tested 1097 specimens during the 2014 Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus outbreak, 180 specimens during the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak, and 92 686 specimens during the 2016-2017 Zika virus outbreak. During the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak, the LRN-B uncovered important gaps in biosafety and biosecurity practices. During the 2016-2017 Zika outbreak, the LRN-B identified the data entry bottleneck as a hindrance to timely reporting of results. Addressing areas for improvement may help LRN-B reference laboratories improve the response to future public health emergencies.