Biological Threats
Laboratory Response Network for Biological Threats
The State Hygienic Laboratory is a Reference Laboratory within the Laboratory Response Network for Biological Threats (LRN-B). This network of domestic and international laboratories is designed to quickly respond to biological threats and other high priority public health emergencies. SHL scientists investigate clinical specimens and credible threat environmental samples for concerning biological agents, which may then be referred to National Laboratories within the LRN-B.
Iowa Laboratory Response Network
SHL also maintains an email group called the Iowa Laboratory Response Network (ILRN), through which it provides sentinel-level clinical laboratories with information, guidance, and training for responding to biological threats. These labs play a key role in the early detection of biological agents by providing routine diagnostic services to rule-out or refer specimens to SHL for additional testing.
The ILRN is also used as a primary means of email communication between SHL and laboratory partners throughout Iowa. If you are not a member of the ILRN but would like to join please contact the SHL Biological Threat Coordinator at 319-467-1123.
Food Emergency Response Network
The Food Emergency Response Network (FERN) integrates the nation’s laboratory infrastructure for the detection of threat agents in food at the local, state, and federal levels in case of a national emergency. The primary objectives of the FERN include prevention (federal and state surveillance sampling programs to monitor the food supply), preparedness (strengthen federal/state/local laboratory capacity and capabilities), response (surge capacity to handle terrorist attacks or a national emergency involving the food supply), and recovery (support recalls, seizures, and disposal of contaminated food to restore confidence in the food supply). FDA and FSIS USDA provide competitive cooperative agreements to State Laboratories to provide surge capacity and capability for food defense and food safety testing. SHL has been a FERN member laboratory since 2004 and has been awarded FDA and/or FSIS USDA cooperative agreements in all three disciplines: microbiology, chemistry and radiochemistry for many years. With this funding, SHL has been involved in on-going testing of food matrices for food defense analytes, method development, method validation, equipment purchases, and special directed projects that meet FDA and FSIS USDA food safety and defense needs.