APHL’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Committee enhances the preparedness and response capability of public health and environmental laboratories through federal guidance, technology transfer, policy development, assessment and education. The Committee collaborates closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and with other partners.
The Committee:
• Makes recommendation to CDC to assure the quality of testing performed by Laboratory Response Network laboratories
• Facilitates transfer of laboratory diagnostics and technologies from CDC to public health laboratories
• Sponsors national meetings for Laboratory Response Network laboratories and partners
• Furnishes guidance to federal partners on public health laboratory preparedness
• Collaborates with the CDC and the College of American Pathologists on the Laboratory Preparedness Survey, which assesses laboratory readiness to respond to incidents of bioterrorism
• Organizes training on preparedness issues, policies and programs
• Articulates APHL policy positions on public health preparedness and infrastructure
• Promotes information sharing among partners.