Bioterrorism and the importance of the public health laboratory

Biological terrorism is a threat to the United States that public health laboratories cannot afford to ignore. With the ability to recognize unusual strains of organisms, or an increase in test requests or isolation of specific organisms, the public health laboratory can detect the beginning of an outbreak. The laboratory can also facilitate appropriate response measures with rapid diagnostic testing and by determining antibiotic resistance patterns. Public health laboratory personnel need to assess their capabilities, improve them where indicated, and know where to turn for assistance. As improvements in bioterrorism detection occur in the civilian sector, military laboratories must integrate with local, state, and federal health department systems. Laboratories are essential components in surveillance, recognition, and response for both bioterrorism and naturally occurring disease outbreaks.