The Laboratory Response Network: Before, during, and after the 2001 anthrax incident

Abstract

Abstract The Laboratory Response Network (LRN) was established in 1999 in response to the worldwide concern for the potential use of biological or chemical agents in the commission of acts of terrorism. One such example was the numerous “hoax” letters allegedly containing the agent of anthrax that were mailed to a variety of agencies, including family planning clinics. As a result of this realistic threat, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Association of Public Health Laboratories, created the LRN for the purpose of strengthening the nation's capacity to provide immediate and sustained laboratory testing and communication in the event of public health emergencies, particularly in response to acts of bioterrorism. From the time of its establishment to the present, the LRN has been successful in integrating the public and private health laboratory communities, in addition to expanding its original focus of medical laboratories to military laboratories, veterinary laboratories, agricultural laboratories, food and water testing laboratories, and international laboratories. The original designation of laboratories as Levels A, B, C, and D was revised to Sentinel, Reference, and Federal laboratories. They now function as an integrated network, with the major goal being to ensure that the nation's public health and private sector laboratories, along with other select laboratories, are prepared and equipped to respond to a biological or chemical act of terrorism in an appropriate and integrated manner. The lessons learned during the anthrax investigation in 2001 clearly demonstrated the need for an integrated network of laboratories, education, and training of technical personnel and the development of rapid detection and confirmatory technology. The American Society for Microbiology is one of many partners in the LRN and is responsible for maintaining and developing sentinel level testing protocols to either “rule out” or refer possible agents of bioterrorism. The mission of the LRN has been expanded to include not only biological and chemical terrorism, but also emerging infectious diseases and other public health threats and emergencies.