In coordination with the CDC and the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), the ASM has developed protocols designed to assist Sentinel Level Clinical Microbiology Laboratories with information and techniques to rule out microorganisms that might be suspected as agents of bioterrorism, or to refer specimens topublic health laboratories for confirmation. The Sentinel Level Clinical Microbiology Laboratory Guidelines offer standardized, practical methods to aid microbiologists in ruling out critical agents and referring specimens to public health laboratories (LRN Reference Laboratories) for confirmation.
Through publication of the Guidelines, the ASM furthers its fundamental interest in education and public health. ASM permits use of the Guidelines without charge provided users agree that they will not charge for such use or distribution of the Guidelines and further agree that any reprint or redistribution of the Guidelines will contain the following attribution “Printed/Distributed with permission from the American Society for Microbiology, Washington, DC, 2010.” Use of the Guidelines constitutes acceptance by the user of these terms of use.
April 14, 2006- Definition of LRN Sentinel Laboratories
The Definition of Laboratory Response Network (LRN) Sentinel Laboratories, which was drafted in part by ASM's Sentinel Guideline Working Group, was approved at an April 2006 LRN Partners meeting.
January 11, 2011 – Note: ASM has renamed the Sentinel Guidelines to, “SENTINEL LEVEL CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY GUIDELINES FOR SUSPECTED AGENTS OF BIOTERRORISM AND EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES” so that all of the guideline titles are consistent.
Recently Updated Guidelines
July 22, 2011 - Revised Sentinel Laboratory Guideline for Packing and Shipping Infectious Substances
The Sentinel Laboratory Guidelines for Suspected Agents of
Bioterrorism and Emerging Infectious Diseases for Packing and Shipping
Infectious Substances were revised July 15, 2011 by author Larry Gray, Ph.D.
The 2011 IATA revisions are shown in RED and the author’s revisions and clarifications
are in BLUE. ASM Sentinel Laboratory guidelines offer clinical
microbiology laboratories standardized, practical methods to aid
microbiologists in ruling out critical agents that may be used in a
bioterrorist event or associated with an emerging infectious disease.
Other Available Guidelines
Anthrax
Avian Influenza A (H5N1)
Brucella
Botulinum Toxin
BT Readiness Plan (.PDF)
BT Readiness Plan (Word File)
Burkholderia mallei and B. pseudomallei
Coxiella burnetii
Packing and Shipping
Plague (Y. Pestis)
Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B
Tularemia
Unknown Viruses |
