title: Functional assessment of hospital laboratory packaging and shipping preparedness in New York State.
abstract: The 2006-2007 New York State (NYS) Hospital Laboratory Drill Series was implemented in order to test notification, referral and packaging and shipping (P&S) procedures at acute care hospital facilities (statewide, excluding New York City) that submit suspect bioterrorism (BT), chemical terrorism (CT), and/or pandemic influenza (Pan Flu) clinical specimens to the NYS Department of Health (DOH) Wadsworth Center for confirmatory testing. Results showed that 97% and 84% of hospital facilities had the ability to directly access the notification network and retrieve drill guidance, respectively. Most hospital laboratories (92%) demonstrated the ability to refer specimens to the Wadsworth Center laboratory. Evaluation of specimen submissions found that 68% of BT packages, 27% of Pan Flu packages, and 20% of CT packages arrived to the laboratory with no P&S deficiencies. It can be concluded that acute care hospital facilities in NYS are more prepared to refer and submit clinical specimens during a BT public health emergency than during a Pan Flu or CT emergency event.
authors.affiliation: NYS Department of Health, Wadsworth Center, P.O. Box 22002, 120 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY 12201, USA. pap04@health.state.ny.us
authors.forename: Paula A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Pennell
authors.forename: Alan J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Antenucci
authors.forename: Lynn E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Brennan
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Burhans
authors.forename: Stephanie E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Ostrowski
mesh_terms: D023482:Bioterrorism; D051337:Chemical Terrorism; D002959:Civil Defense; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000592:standards*; D004631:Emergency Medical Service Communication Systems / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D009518:New York; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000592:standards; D019064:Product Packaging / Q000592:standards*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000592:standards*