"Every year CDC and local and state public health laboratories practice how they would respond to a chemical threat to the nation. They are part of a national network that responds to chemical terrorism and other public health emergencies. The lessons learned in these drills help prepare public health partners for action in a real emergency.
A recent exercise simulated a public health response to a chemical attack on a music venue in Atlanta. Responders were fighting an unknown chemical agent that was released during a concert. More than 1,000 people attending were exposed to the unknown gas. Common complaints included tightness in the chest, runny nose, and difficulty breathing.
In the drill, CDC practiced its Rapid Toxic Screen procedure to determine the cause, which turned out to be an extremely toxic nerve agent. A mock response team from the agency retrieved 40 urine and blood samples from the state public health laboratory and analyzed them in CDC laboratories.
Learning to Pinpoint Problems Quickly
The Rapid Toxic Screen is the emergency response protocol for analyzing urine and blood from people at the scene of chemical threats. The CDC Division of Laboratory Sciences (DLS) developed the protocol. The purpose is to quickly identify agents, toxins, or drugs causing health problems.
With this protocol DLS can detect up to 150 chemical agents in 40 samples within 36 hours of samples receipt at CDC. The response team includes laboratory staff trained in sample packaging and shipping and safety procedures."
Chemical Terrorism
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