Laboratory Preparedness and Response
Contact LRN.
Stephanie Ostrowski, Ph.D., LRN Coordinator
Phone (518) 457-9795
Fax (518) 473-1326
LRNexec@health.state.ny.us
Laboratory Response Network (LRN)
The Laboratory Response Network is a consortium of local, state and federal public health, clinical, food testing, veterinary, and environmental testing laboratories intended to provide a coordinated and immediate response to biological and chemical terrorism, emerging infectious diseases, and other public health emergencies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Association of Public Health Laboratories, coordinates efforts at the national level to link state and local public health reference laboratories with federal laboratories that conduct confirmatory and advanced level testing.
New York State Laboratory Response Network
The NYS LRN coordinates biological and chemical LRN activities within the Wadsworth Center and between the Center and its preparedness partners, including local, state and federal health, first responder and law enforcement agencies. It also serves as the link for preparedness activities between the Wadsworth Center and the sentinel laboratories serving NYS. Among its sentinel laboratory responsibilities are maintenance of information related to select agent sentinel laboratory testing capability and capacity; coordination and development of outreach and training activities; and promotion and facilitation of statewide laboratory communication and connectivity.
Additional detailed laboratory preparedness and response information, including preparedness activities, advisories and alerts, is available on the New York State (NYS) LRN Home Page and through the NYS Health Alert Network (HAN). These can be accessed via the state's secure Health Provider Network (HPN). If you need information on establishing an HPN account or accessing the LRN Home Page, please contact the NYS LRN program staff at LRNexec@health.state.ny.us or (518) 457-9795.