title: Laboratory response to anthrax bioterrorism, New York City, 2001.
abstract: In October 2001, the greater New York City Metropolitan Area was the scene of a bioterrorism attack. The scale of the public response to this attack was not foreseen and threatened to overwhelm the Bioterrorism Response Laboratory's (BTRL) ability to process and test environmental samples. In a joint effort with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the cooperation of the Department of Defense, a massive effort was launched to maintain and sustain the laboratory response and return test results in a timely fashion. This effort was largely successful. The development and expansion of the facility are described, as are the special needs of a BTRL. The establishment of a Laboratory Bioterrorism Command Center and protocols for sample intake, processing, reporting, security, testing, staffing, and and quality control are also described.
authors.affiliation: New York city Department of Health, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Heller
authors.forename: Michel L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bunning
authors.forename: Martin E B
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: France
authors.forename: Debra M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Niemeyer
authors.forename: Leonard
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peruski
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Naimi
authors.forename: Phillip M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Talboy
authors.forename: Patrick H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Harald W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Pietz
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kornblum
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Oleszko
authors.forename: Sara T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Beatrice
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000881:Anthrax / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D023482:Bioterrorism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D019451:Information Management / Q000379:methods; D007753:Laboratories / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017056:Medical Laboratory Personnel; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012637:Security Measures; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods; D000078329:Workforce; D016526:Workload