The lab tables are sealed with protective paper, lab coats and safety goggles are donned as 13 area laboratorians study bacteria that look and react like potential biothreat agents. They came to Wright State University on April 5, 2017 to participate in a bio-terrorism agent workshop sponsored by the Ohio Department of Health Laboratory.
Participants of this one-day workshop reviewed the primary agents of bio-terrorism, safe handling of samples and cultures, and how to recognize biothreat agents through staining and biochemical characteristics. The Ohio Department of Health designs workshops like this one using surrogate, or look-alike, bacteria for clinical microbiologists and those responsible for the oversight of biothreat agent testing.
Laboratorians in our hospital and clinical laboratories play an important role as they are most likely to be the first to encounter these bacteria in their laboratories. Participants are also reminded that many of the bacteria cause infrequent but naturally occurring infections, even in Ohio. For this reason, it is important for laboratorians to have training to recognize and when to report a potential biothreat agent to mitigate disease and potential deaths.
According to a representative from the Public Health Laboratory, the lay-out of the Wright State lab used for this workshop was impressive and conducive to holding a successful workshop. For this reason, universities are often contacted to partner for in-service trainings which are offered 1-3 times annually.
The Public Health Laboratory was established in 1898 to function as the State Reference Laboratory for human-related diseases. The laboratory provides reference testing, consultation, education, and training in support of public health programs and medical services. The lab also provides assessment of selected environmental risks, screens for diseases of public health interest, and provides educational programs like this one.
