2008 All-Hazards Laboratory Preparedness Survey - Printable Version

Transcription

1 2008 All-Hazards Laboratory Preparedness Survey - Printable Version Section 1: All-Hazards Preparedness (1) Who is the primary contact in your laboratory for this survey? Public Health Laboratory Director Bioterrorism (BT) Laboratory Coordinator Chemical Threat (CT) Laboratory Coordinator Other (please provide contact name, and phone number): (2) Do the APHL Guidance Tools on the CDC Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperative Agreement assist you in preparing the laboratory component of the CDC grant application? (3) Please provide comments on how the APHL Guidance Tool can be improved to better meet your state s needs. (4) CDC/COTPER Does your laboratory have a documented Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) consistent with National Incident Management System (NIMS) guidelines? In 2003, President Bush issued Homeland Security Presidential Directive-5, which directed the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop and administer a NIMS to provide a consistent nationwide template to enable all government, private-sector and nongovernmental organizations to work together during domestic incidents. You may find more information about NIMS at but state has a COOP which includes laboratory operations, but COOP is being developed, and the state does not have a COOP plan which includes laboratory operations and plans (5) CDC/COTPER From August 31, 2007 to August 30, 2008, did you test and/or exercise your COOP? Please skip to Question 6 (5a) CDC/COTPER In which programs did you test and/or exercise your COOP? Please select all that apply. Biological Threat Preparedness Chemical Threat Preparedness Radiological Threat Preparedness Other, please specify

2 (6) (TFAH) If needed in an emergency, does the state public health laboratory have the capability to provide 24/7 coverage to analyze samples suspected of containing biological threat agents? (please explain why not): Decline to respond (7) For preparedness specific positions, please rank the following workforce difficulties your SPHL experienced from August 31, 2007 to August 30, Place a 1 next to your first choice, a 2 next to your second choice and a 3 next to the third choice. Recruitment difficulties Hiring difficulties Retention difficulties difficulties experienced (7a) You ranked {choice} as your greatest workforce difficulty. Please select which aspect of {choice} was the greatest difficulty in your laboratory. Lack of qualified applicants Hiring Freezes n-competitive salaries Lack of funding (8) Please complete the following table by indicating whether or not your SPHL has a full-time staff person for the following roles., full-time, staff works fewer than 35 hours per week, functions combined with other duties staff State Training Laboratory Coordinator (STC) Biological Terrorism (Threat) Laboratory Coordinator (BT) Chemical Terrorism (Threat) Laboratory Coordinator (CT) Assistant Chemical Terrorism (Threat) Laboratory

3 Coordinator (CT) Liaison to hospitals/sentinel laboratories Coordinator for first responders (e.g. HazMat, CST, law enforcement officials, etc.) (9) CDC/COTPER Does your SPHL provide training and other outreach activities to first responders (HazMat, CSTs, etc.)? Please check all that apply. Training Outreach Proficiency testing ne Please go to Question 9a (9a) CDC/COTPER Why does your state SPHL not provide training, outreach or proficiency testing to first responders (HazMat, CSTs, etc.)? Please check all that apply. Lack of staff at the SPHL to provide this training Lack of expertise at the SPHL t the responsibility of the SPHL Lack of funding Lack of national guidance on training for first responders relationship with first responders (10) (TFAH) Does your SPHL currently have an intra-state courier system (non-mail) that operates 24 hours per day for specimen pickup and delivery? For the purposes of this assessment, intra-state courier service refers to a system that is state owned and operated or contracted to a designated carrier. please explain what system is in place: Decline to respond Please note that Question 11 asks how many specimens/samples your laboratory received, while Question 12 asks how many specimens/samples your laboratory tested. (11) How many clinical specimens and environmental samples did your laboratory receive from August 31, 2007 to August 30, 2008?

4 Clinical Specimens: Environmental Samples: (12) How many tests did your laboratory perform on the samples you received from August 31, 2007 to August 30, 2008? Do not include specimens/samples used in proficiency testing. Please enter 0 if none. Unknown Threat Agents Chemical Threat Agents Radiological Threat Agents Biological Threat Agents Other, please specify Clinical Tests Environmental Tests (13) Do you require law enforcement officers/first responders to screen unknown samples prior to accepting these samples into your laboratory? Please skip to Question 14 (13a) From the list provided, please indicate for which agents the law enforcement officers/first responders screen. Please check all that apply. Biological Chemical Radiological Nuclear Explosive Incendiary (14) Does your SPHL have a designated screening (triaging) area or facility for receiving unknown samples?, unique space located in same building as the public health laboratory, separate facility located outside of the public health laboratory, but SPHL has plans in place to design and implement a unique space within the same building as the public health laboratory for receiving unknown samples, but SPHL has plans in place to design and implement a separate facility located outside of the public health laboratory for receiving unknown samples

5 (14a) From the list provided, please indicate which of the following explanations best describes why your SPHL does not have plans in place for the design and implementation of such a facility. Please check all that apply. Lack of space Lack of funding from state government Lack of funding from federal government Lack of federal guidance (e.g. training protocols, proficiency testing, etc.) Zoning issues (15) What protocol does your laboratory use to handle and triage unknown samples in a public health laboratory setting? Laboratory developed All-Hazards Screening Protocol EPA/DHS Draft Interim All-Hazards Receipt Facility Protocol All-Hazards screening protocol is currently in place (16) Please indicate the number of preparedness exercises that your SPHL conducted or participated in from August 31, 2007 to August 30, Do not include your responses to real events and proficiency tests. Please enter 0 if none. Table-top exercises Drills Functional exercise Full-scale exercise Biological threat Chemical threat Radiological threat Multi-Hazards (e.g. an exercise testing a combination of biological, chemical or radiological threats) Pandemic flu Other (please specify below) (17) For the following, please indicate how frequently you communicate with the following partners:

6 Often Sometimes Rarely Never t Applicable DOD/Military laboratory National Guard Bureau/Civil Support Team FBI Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Coordinator USPS Postal Inspectors Local Law Enforcement, First Responders, HazMat Local Public Health Department/Laboratory Veterinary Laboratory Agriculture Laboratory Environmental Laboratory University Research Laboratory Poison Control Centers

7 (18) For the following, please indicate how you collaborate with the following partners. Please check all that apply. Written emergency plan for collaboration in place Collaborate on the selection and validation of field instruments Cooperate in exercises and drills Provide advice on sample collection and shipping Perform confirmatory testing on screened samples Provide other consultation Provide training to first responders Provide funding N/A DOD/Military laboratory National Guard Bureau/Civil Support Team FBI Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Coordinator USPS Postal Inspectors Local Law Enforcement, First Responders, HazMat Local Public Health Department/Laboratory Veterinary Laboratory Agriculture Laboratory Environmental Laboratory University Research

8 Laboratory Poison Control Centers Other (please specify below)

9 Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (19) Was your laboratory involved with developing your state s pandemic influenza plan? Decline to respond (20) (TFAH) Are you familiar with the expectations for your laboratory s capabilities described in your state s pandemic influenza plan? Decline to respond (21) (TFAH) Can your laboratory meet the expectations of your state s pandemic influenza plan? Decline to respond (22) Have the public health laboratory staff assigned to BT-LRN testing and the influenza/virology laboratory staff developed coordinated plans for enhanced surveillance and surge testing that may be required for a pandemic? (23) Does your laboratory participate in the Food Emergency Response Network (FERN)? (24) From August 31, 2007 to August 30, 2008, did your laboratory receive funding from FERN? (24a) Please compete the table below by indicating the amount of funding your laboratory received from FERN from August 31, 2007 to August 30, 2008 for the following activities. FERN Funding Biological testing Chemical testing Radiochemistry testing Triage program

10 Section 2: Biological Threat Preparedness (25) From August 31, 2007 to August 30, 2008, how much biological threat preparedness funding did your laboratory receive from your state? If none, please enter 0. (26) From August 31, 2007 to August 30, 2008, how much of the CDC PHEP Cooperative Agreement funding did your laboratory receive to maintain and enhance capabilities to test for biological agents? Do not include funds received for influenza preparedness or carryover funds from previous years. (27) From August 31, 2007 to August 30, 2008, how much of the above allocated CDC biological laboratory threat preparedness funds were used for the following specific activities? Do not include funds received for influenza preparedness or carryover funds from previous years. Please enter 0 if none. Salaries & Fringe Equipment Purchase Equipment Maintenance Supplies Training & Travel General Overhead Renovations Other (please specify below) Allocated CDC BT Preparedness Funds from August 31, 2007 to August 30, 2008 (28) From August 31, 2007 to August 30, 2008, how much of the CDC Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperative Agreement funds awarded for biological laboratory threat preparedness were spent, obligated and unspent? Do not include funds received for influenza preparedness or carryover funds from previous years. Please enter 0 if none. Spent Obligated Unspent CDC PHEP funds awarded for BT from August 31, 2007 to August 30, 2008 (29) To which of the following LRN laboratories in your state did you provide funding from August 31, 2007 to August 30, 2008? Please select all that apply. Branch SPHL

11 Local public health laboratory DOD/Military laboratory Clinical (hospital, university or private) laboratory Veterinary laboratory Agricultural laboratory Food laboratory Other laboratory (please specify): (30) For bioterrorism preparedness activities, how much federal funding do you receive which is NOT from the CDC? (31) Please rank the top three impacts of any funding cuts your laboratory has experienced from August 31, 2007 to August 30, SPHL did not experience any preparedness funding cuts from August 31, 2007 to August 30, 2008 Lost full-time staff position Lost part-time staff position Significantly increased overtime Increased staff turnover Unable to purchase and upgrade laboratory information management system (LIMS) Unable to purchase critical equipment (e.g. PCR instrumentation, Automated Extractors, Biosafety Cabinets) Unable to purchase reagents and supplies Unable to renew service/maintenance contracts for instrumentation Delayed or cancelled planned facility improvements Increased sample turnaround time Unable to expand capabilities for new assays/tests Unable to participate in national meetings/conferences Unable to attend training courses Unable to provide or had to reduce the number of training courses and other outreach activities within your jurisdiction Other (please specify below) Experienced no change in laboratory operations (32) As of August 30, 2008, how many laboratorians are trained to perform Real Time PCR and TRF assays for BT agents? How many additional laboratorians are needed to perform Real Time PCR and TRF assays for BT agents? Please enter 0 if none. Currently trained Additional laboratorians needed PCR only TRF only PCR & TRF

12 (33) Do you provide training to LRN reference (confirmatory) laboratories in your state? (33a) Please complete the following table by indicating the number of LRN reference laboratories and laboratorians in your state that have received training on LRN confirmatory methods from the state PHL. Please enter 0 if none. Number of LRN Reference Laboratories Number of LRN Reference Laboratorians (33b) Please specify why you did not provide training to LRN reference (confirmatory) laboratories and laboratorians. (34) From August 31, 2007 to August 30, 2008, did your laboratory provide any funding or equipment (e.g. Class II Biological Safety Cabinet, other personal protective equipment, etc.) to sentinel clinical laboratories your state? (35) What source of funding did you use to provide support to the sentinel clinical laboratories (Link to JLC-definition)? Please check all that apply. CDC Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) Cooperative Agreement HHS/ASPR (formerly HRSA) Hospital Preparedness Program Cooperative Agreement State funding (36) CDC/COTPER From August 31, 2007 to August 30, 2008, did your laboratory sponsor any sentinel (clinical) laboratory training in your state? Please skip to Question 37 (36a) CDC/COTPER Please complete the following table by indicating the total number of classes your laboratory offered, the total number of facilities that received training and the total number of clinical laboratorians trained. Total number of classes offered Total number of facilities that received training Total number of sentinel clinical laboratorians trained

13 (36b) CDC/COTPER In Question 36a, you reported you reported [[X]] classes, [[Y]] facilities received training and [[Z]] laboratorians were trained. Please indicate in the table below how many classes, facilities and laboratorians received training in rule-out testing, packaging and shipping, and biosafety. Rule-out testing Packaging & shipping Biosafety Other (please specify) Number of classes Number of facilities that received training Number of sentinel clinical laboratorians trained (37) Has your SPHL awarded a certificate of recognition to sentinel clinical laboratories in your state? Please select all that apply., awarded the LRN Joint Leadership Committee (JLC) approved certificate, awarded a state-developed certificate certificate awarded Please skip to Question 38 (37a) How many sentinel clinical laboratories received a certificate? Please enter 0 if none. Number of laboratorians LRN JLC Basic Certificate LRN JLC Advanced Certificate State Certificate to Basic Sentinel Laboratories State Certificate to Advanced Sentinel Laboratories (38) Does your SPHL have a performance measurement system in place to assess the competency of sentinel clinical laboratories to rule out BT agents (using mock/surrogate agents)? Please check all that apply., state developed, College of American Pathologists (CAP) Laboratory Preparedness Exercise (LPX), Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene Proficiency Testing (WSLH PT)/Challenge Set for Sentinel Laboratories, other (please specify):

14 (39) CDC/COTPER From August 31, 2007 to August 30, 2008, how often did you use your rapid communications method (Health Alert Network or HAN, blast or fax) to send messages to your sentinel clinical laboratories and other partners for the following? Please enter 0 if none. Outbreaks Routine Updates Training events, such as providing training calendar Other (please specify below) Number of Times

15 Section 3: Chemical Threat Preparedness (40) From August 31, 2007 to August 30, 2008, how much chemical threat preparedness funding did your laboratory receive from your state? If none, please enter 0. (41) From August 31, 2007 to August 30, 2008, how much CDC Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperative Agreement funding did your SPHL receive to maintain and enhance capabilities to test for chemical agents? Please enter 0 if none. Level Amount of funding from CDC PHEP Cooperative Agreement Funding for Level 2 Activities Funding for Level 3 Activities (42) From August 31, 2007 to August 30, 2008, how much of the above allocated PHEP funds were spent, obligated and unspent on chemical threat activities? Please enter 0 if none. Spent Obligated Unspent PHEP funds awarded for chemical threat preparedness from August 31, 2007 to August 30, 2008 (43) From August 31, 2007 to August 30, 2008, how much of the above allocated CDC chemical laboratory threat preparedness funds were used for the following specific activities? Do not include funds received carryover funds from previous years. Please enter 0 if none. Salaries & Fringe Equipment Purchase Equipment Maintenance Supplies Training & Travel General Overhead Renovations Allocated CDC CT Preparedness Funds from August 31, 2007 to August 30, 2008

16 Other (please specify below) (44) For chemical threat activities, how much federal funding do you receive which is NOT from the CDC? (45) From August 31, 2007 to August 30, 2008, for chemical threat activities, please rank the top three impacts of any funding cuts your laboratory has experienced. SPHL did not experience any funding cuts from August 31, 2007 to August 30, 2008 Lost full-time staff position Lost part-time staff position Significantly increased overtime Increased staff turnover Unable to purchase and upgrade laboratory information management system (LIMS) Unable to purchase critical equipment (e.g. LCMS, ICP-MS, FTIR, Chemical Fume Hoods, etc.) Unable to purchase reagents and supplies Unable to renew service/maintenance contracts for instrumentation Delayed or canceled planned facility improvements Increased sample turnaround time Unable to expand capabilities for new assays/tests Unable to participate in national meetings/conferences Unable to attend training courses Unable to provide or had to reduce the number of training courses and other outreach activities within your jurisdiction Considered dropping a CT Level Other (please specify below) Experienced no change in laboratory operations (46) What sample types are accepted for analysis of chemical threat agents at your SPHL? Please check all that apply. Clinical Environmental Food ne (47) CDC/COTPER and TFAH From August 31, 2007 to August 30, 2008, did you increase, decrease or maintain your chemical threat capability? Increase Skip to Question 47a Maintain Decrease Skip to Question 47b

17 Other, please specify: (47a) CDC/COTPER How did you increase your capability? Please select all that apply. Added one LRN-C method Added two LRN-C methods Added more than two LRN-C methods Added CT Personnel Added CT Equipment (47b) CDC/COTPER How did you decrease your capability? Please select all that apply. Dropped one LRN-C method Dropped two LRN-C methods Dropped more than two LRN-C methods Lost CT Personnel Lost CT Equipment (48) How many CT laboratorians does your laboratory have on staff? Please enter 0 if none. Full Time: Part Time: (48a) How are the CT laboratorians funded? Please select all that apply CDC/PHEP Cooperative Agreement funds State Funding (49) Did your CT laboratorians participate in any of the following? Please select all that apply. CDC method training LRN-C field training Vendor/instrument/software training from distributor Academic training ne

18 Section 4: Radiological Threat Preparedness This series of questions is designed to obtain more detailed information specific to the ability of this laboratory to perform radiological threat response analysis of clinical samples. (50) How many radiochemists does your laboratory have on staff? Please enter 0 if none. Full Time: Part Time: (51) Does your laboratory have a Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) license? Please proceed to Question 49 (51a) Does your laboratory have a NRC radiation safety officer? (52) Does your laboratory have a radiation safety committee? Please check all that apply., laboratory has a radiation safety committee, laboratory participates on state agency radiation safety committee, laboratory does not have a radiation safety committee, laboratory does not participates on state agency radiation safety committee Radiological Analytical Equipment (53) List the dedicated equipment at your facility that supports analysis of clinical or environmental samples potentially contaminated by nuclear or radiological threat. Dedicated Equipment High resolution ICP-MS Quadruple ICP-DRC-MS Ion Chromatograph Liquid Scintillation Counter (LSC) Alpha, beta and gamma Geiger Counter Gamma Spectroscopy Instrument (NaI) Gamma Spectroscopy Instrument (HPGe) Quadruple ICP-MS (non DRC) Whole Body Counter Number of instruments Specimen throughput per 24- hour day (for total number of instruments) Number of trained staff

19 (54) Please list the equipment at your laboratory that could be converted and used for analysis of clinical or environmental samples potentially contaminated by radiological threat. High resolution ICP-MS Quadruple ICP-DRC-MS Ion Chromatograph Liquid Scintillation Counter (LSC) Alpha, beta and gamma Geiger Counter Gamma Spectroscopy Instrument (NaI) Gamma Spectroscopy Instrument (HPGe) Quadruple ICP-MS (non DRC) Number of instruments Specimen throughput per 24- hour day (for total number of instruments) Number of trained staff (55) Can your SPHL measure radiation exposure in clinical specimens? Please skip to Question 55a Please skip to Question 55b (55a) Indicate below which methods your laboratory is currently proficient in for radiological threat response analysis of clinical specimens. Americium-241 (Am-241) Cesium-137 (Cs-137) Cobalt-60 (Co-60) Iodine-131 (I-131) Iridium-192 (Ir-192) Plutonium (Pu-239) Strontium-90 (Sr-90) Uranium-235 (U-235) & Uranium-238 (U-238) Polonium-210 (Po-210) (55b) If your SPHL is unable to measure radiation exposure in clinical specimens, is there another agency or department in your state that would accept and analyze these samples? (55c) If yes, where? (56) Please provide any other comments about radiological preparedness activities below.