Laboratory Response Network for Biological Threats (LRN-B) and Chemical Threats (LRN-C), reference materials for Idaho's sentinel labs including packaging and shipping infectious substances, CDC guidance documents, and submission forms
LRN-B
Through the CDC Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperative Agreement, IBL's Laboratory Response Network for Biological Threats (LRN-B) lab trains a network of Idaho sentinel labs to recognize potential biological threat (BT) agents and to properly ship specimens. Sentinel laboratories are typically clinical laboratories that analyze or refer specimens that may contain microbial agents or toxins.
As an LRN reference laboratory, IBL's LRN-B lab receives biological specimens from sentinel laboratories and environmental samples from agencies such as HazMat to confirm biological threats. The lab utilizes rapid molecular and conventional microbiological methods for confirmation of BT agents.
LRN-C
Through the CDC Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperative Agreement, IBL's Laboratory Response Network for Chemical Threats (LRN-C) lab trains a network of Idaho sentinel labs to collect and ship clinical specimens and also provides chemistry consultation to health care professionals.
IBL provides chemical threat testing services solely in support of public health and safety activities. The laboratory does not accept samples from private individuals or organizations.
As an LRN-C Level 2 confirmatory laboratory, IBL's LRN-C lab analyzes clinical specimens (blood and urine) for the presence of toxic chemical agents, utilizing GC-MS, ICP-MS, and LC-MS/MS instrumentation. These methods can be applied to matrices such as food and personal care products.
Food testing
IBL provides food testing services solely in support of public health activities, such as foodborne illness investigations, and does not accept food samples from private individuals or organizations. As a member of the Food Emergency Response Network (FERN), IBL provides threat identification and rule-out tests to support public health and law enforcement operations and performs rapid tests for the early detection of biological agents and toxicants in food.
Additional information
Select agents are biological agents and toxins that have the potential to pose a severe threat to public health. The possession, use, and transfer or select agents is regulated by the National Select Agent Registry.
- Biothreat Agent Bench Cards for the Sentinel Laboratory
- Biothreat Agent Poster
- Idaho Select Agent Identification Chart: This is a quick reference guide with characteristics of Bacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis, Francisella tularensis, Brucella species, Burkholderia mallei, and Burkholderia pseudomallei.
- Federal Select Agent Program: All entities that possess, use, or transfer biological agents or toxins are required to be registered with the Federal Select Agent Program. This website contains forms, current regulations, and additional resource information.
- List of Select Agents and Toxins
- Form 3: Report of Theft, Loss, or Release of Select Agents and Toxins - Entities are required to report a theft, loss, or release of a select agent or toxin.
- Form 4: Report of the Identification of a Select Agent or Toxin - Use this form to notify the Federal Select Agent Program of the identification of a select agent or toxin as the result of diagnosis, verification, or proficiency testing and of the final disposition of that identified agent or toxin.
- Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR) Toxic Substances Portal: provides important information about toxic substances and how they affect health including characteristics, exposure risks, associated health effects, and related CDC and ATSDR health studies and assessments
- CDC Emergency Preparedness and Response: A-Z Index: search facts about chemical threat agents