Laboratory Response Network | CTTL

LRN-C public health laboratories are ready to respond

LRN-C integrates 54 state and local public health laboratories that operate 24/7 to provide laboratory diagnostics and the surge capacity for chemical emergencies. There is at least one LRN-C lab in each of the 50 states, three major US cities, and one in Puerto Rico. Each has the capacity to

• monitor chemical exposures at their onset,
• assist local hospitals and first responders with sample triage,
• pack and ship laboratory materials to other network laboratories, and
• serve as a CDC back-up facility in case of overflow during large-scale chemical emergencies.

Additional LRN-C Laboratories

District of Columbia – Level 2
Los Angeles – Level 2
New York City – Level 3

CDC and LRN-C critical partnership

CDC partners with the LRN-C to maintain specialized capabilities for analyzing human exposures to chemical threat agents, e.g., toxic metals and industrial chemicals. Established in 1999, the LRN-C has been ensuring laboratory preparedness and response capability for 25 years. This partnership ensures the following:

• National laboratory preparedness in the event of a large-scale chemical emergency.
• Local laboratory preparedness during small-scale emergencies, with support to hospitals, civil support teams, and poison control centers.
• National laboratory preparedness for addressing local public health concerns, such as the U.S. opioid crisis.

CDC provides several program services to LRN-C member laboratories to ensure harmonized specimen packaging, shipping, and testing capabilities across the network:

• Hands-on training and technology transfer on CDC core chemical threat test methods
• Standardized Quality Control Materials Program
• Proficiency testing (PT) for a core set of chemical threat methods
• Full-scale exercises and response readiness drills
• Secured data reporting and communications