Biological Information and Courses from MediaLab, Inc.

Many clinical laboratories utilize reference laboratories for molecular methodology testing. Transport and shipping of biological specimens must follow laws and regulations governing these types of specimens. Consult your laboratory’s accrediting agency and reference lab for specific polices and procedures.

 Acts of terrorism can be anything from simply threats to assassinations, kidnappings, hijackings, bombings and bomb scares, attacks on our computer systems (called cyber-attacks), and the use of chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons.

Biological agents are organisms or toxins that can kill or incapacitate people, live stock, and crops. The three basic groups of biological agents that would likely be used as weapons are bacteria, viruses, and toxins. Biological agents can be dispersed as aerosols or airborne particles.

Potential biological and chemical agents that might be used as weapons of mass destruction (WMD) are numerous, and preparing the nation to address these dangers is a major challenge.  Early detection of and swift response to biological and chemical terrorism is crucial. This requires increased biological and chemical awareness by front-line health-care providers because they are in the best position to report suspicious illnesses.

They are easily available.Biological pathogens can be obtained from nature, hospital  laboratories, university research facilities, etc.They can be hard to detect.Small quantities can have potentially deadly or incapacitating effects on a susceptible population.They can be used covertly.They can be spread throughout large areas by natural convection, air or water currents. They can be easily spread.Ventilation systems in buildings is one way biological agents may be spread. In addition, transportation facilities could become part of the dissemination system by carrying biological agents far from their initial source.

They are not immediate. The delayed effect, for example, the long incubation period for some agents, may detract and limit their tactful usefulness as a political statement.They are hazardous to all who come in contact.There is the possibility that the biological agents could also affect the health of the aggressor forces. They are hard to control.The dependence of prevailing winds and other weather conditions such as temperature, sunlight, and desiccation may make it difficult to control distribution of the biological agent.  Potential long term effects beyond the initial attack.The persistence of some agents such as spore-forming anthrax in the environment may make an area uninhabitable to aggressor forces for long periods. Results are unpredictable.Morbidity secondary to a biological attack is unpredictable since casualties will be related to the quantity and manner of exposure plus the preventive and treatment measures available.

The frontline clinical microbiology laboratories are known as “sentinel laboratories”. The sentinel laboratories play a key role in the nation’s preparedness efforts. These laboratories perform the initial screening of clinical specimens for potential pathogens (rule-out) and refer specimens or isolates to a state or local public health laboratory at the reference level of the LRN. There are two kinds of sentinel laboratories: advanced and basic. Classification depends on their biological safety level and analytical capability.

 As the term suggests, Terrorists excel at creating panic. What is so insidious about chemical and biological terrorism is that it involves agents that we can’t see. People don’t know how to react when they can’t see what is hurting them. There are several examples, from a commercial bus crash to someone who reported smelling gas in a school, where rumors that the incidents were caused by either biological or chemical terrorism triggered an “epidemic hysteria”. In both areas the local hospital’s emergency room was overwhelmed. In each of the incidents mentioned, State and Federal officials spent countless hours investigating and found no possible biohazard, but the panic was real. From these experiences we see more than ever that healthcare workers are not just the first line of defense in the event of an actual attack, they are who the public looks to for rationality and reliable information in an bioterrorism emergency.

Listen to the radio for instructions from authorities on whether to evacuate or stay put. If told to stay inside, seek shelter in an internal room or a room with as few doors and windows as possible. Turn off all ventilation and as best as possible seal all openings in windows and doors. Continue to monitor the radio. Some biological attacks may be more immediately apparent than others. Monitor your radio, television, or medical alert for instructions from authorities regarding disease symptoms and how and where to seek medical attention. If you do come in contact with a visible, potentially infectious substance, you should remove and bag your clothes and personal items, wash yourself with warm soapy water immediately, and seek medical assistance.

Control materials are made to match patient samples in physical and chemical characteristics. Control samples are often made with biological material.Control samples are tested in the same way as patient samples. If the results from testing a control sample are not within the acceptable ranges, we assume there has been a problem in the test procedure, equipment, or the samples themselves. There are many criteria for rejecting a test based on the control samples measurements; these criteria will be detailed further in a later section.Patient results are not reported until the cause of the problem has been found, the problem resolved, and the controls re-run to verify that everything is working normally.

Many physical and biological processes are well-modeled by a distribution having a roughly bell-like shape. This curve is called the gaussian, bell curve or normal distribution. The normal distribution has the following characteristics: 68.3% of the area lies between x̄ - 1s and x̄ + 1s 95.5% of the area lies between x̄ - 2s and x̄ + 2s 99.7% of the area lies between x̄ - 3s and x̄ + 3s For example, if a certain control gives a mean test result of .56 with standard deviation .8, then 95.5% of future tests on that control will be in the range .40 - .72, within 2 standard deviations of the mean. This sets limits on the range of values produced by the instrument on that control that will be considered acceptable and define which values may not acceptable and could indicate a problem.

A person exposed to a specific immunizing event may produce “immune” ABO antibodies of the same specificity as the “naturally” occurring antibody, but with different biological behavior. Such immunizing events include pregnancy with an ABO incompatible fetus or transfusion of ABO incompatible red cells. After immunization, the subject’s antibody may increase in titer and/or avidity, develop powerful hemolyzing properties, or become more active at 37ºC.

Public health laboratory scientists are also regulated by the Board. The table below outlines the various requirements for applicants to receive licensure for a public health laboratory. Public Health Laboratory RequirementsDirectorFulfill the same requirements as a clinical laboratory directorSupervisorBe certified by National Registry in Clinical Chemistry or American Society for MicrobiologyBe licensed as a technologistHave five year's relevant experiencePass the state examTechnician (microbiology)Have a Bachelor's degree in one of the biological sciencesObtain American Society for Microbiology or the National Registry in Microbiology Certification in Public Health Microbiology Technician (chemistry)Have a Bachelor's degree in one of the chemical, biological, or physical sciencesObtain National Registry of Clinical Chemistry Certification in Public Health ChemistryTechnician (conditional)Have a Bachelor's degree in one of the chemical or biological sciencesPerform tests only under the direct supervision of a licensed pathologist, director, supervisor, or technologist.Receives a conditional two-year license, which may be renewed only once A license from the Board of Clinical Laboratory Personnel allows you to work in a public health laboratory at the same level and specialty.

Meets one of the following:Bachelor's degree in clinical laboratory, chemical or biological science plus:Completion of a medical technologist training program ORThree years of laboratory experience, at least one of which must be in the applied-for specialtyAssociate's degree plus:Florida technician's license and completion of a technician level medical laboratory training program ORFive years of laboratory experience, at least one of which must be in the applied-for specialtyPasses an examination in one or more specialtiesCompletes one hour of HIV / AIDS continuing educationCompletes two hours of medical errors continuing education

The laboratory director is responsible for the development of a risk-based infection control plan for the laboratory.The personnel are trained in methods that minimize the production of aerosols.A respirator is used when performing procedures that can result in aerosolization outside a biological safety cabinet.Personal protective equipment specified in the infection control plan is used.Disposable gloves are worn for all laboratory procedures.