Prepared Laboratories Resources

At a glance

Find training and resources supporting clinical and public health laboratories in outbreak response and biosafety preparedness.

Overview

More than 330,000 laboratories in the United States are certified through the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA). Certified laboratories are on the front line of patient care and emergency response. The Division of Laboratory Systems (DLS) partners with clinical and public health laboratories to support outbreak response and preparedness with training, tools, and resources.

Featured courses

Introduction to Laboratory Risk Management (LRM)
Fundamentals of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Clinical Laboratories
Office of Public Health Scientific Services (OPHSS)
Packing and Shipping Dangerous Goods: What the Laboratory Staff Must Know

Biosafety

Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines for working with SARS-CoV-2
Find general and specific biosafety guidelines for handling SARS-CoV-2 specimens, including info on...
DLS Safe Labs
Outlines DLS initiatives to enhance biosafety in U.S. clinical laboratories.
Fundamentals of Working Safely in a Biological Safety Cabinet (BSC)
LabTrainingVR: Biological Safety Cabinet Edition

Biothreat preparedness

Biothreat Preparedness Training for Sentinel Laboratories Series
Learn about ASM sentinel laboratory protocols used for potential bioterrorism agent identification.
Biothreat Preparedness Training: Bacillus anthracis
Learn the laboratory tests needed to identify Bacillus anthracis, or anthrax.
Biothreat Preparedness Training: Brucella spp.
Learn the laboratory tests needed to identify Brucella spp.
Biothreat Preparedness Training: Burkholderia spp.
Learn the laboratory tests needed to identify Burkholderia spp.
Biothreat Preparedness Training: Francisella tularensis
Learn the laboratory tests needed to identify Francisella tularensis.
Biothreat Preparedness Training: Yersinia pestis
Take this course to learn about laboratory identification of Yersinia pestis.
Biothreat Rule Out or Refer Series
Use exercises to apply ASM sentinel laboratory protocols to detect potential agents of bioterrorism.
Biothreat Rule Out or Refer: Virtual Knowledge Exercise 1
Learn essential laboratory protocols to detect potential biothreat agents in a safe environment.
Biothreat Rule Out or Refer: Virtual Knowledge Exercise 2
Learn essential laboratory protocols to detect potential biothreat agents in a safe environment.
Biothreat Rule Out or Refer: Virtual Knowledge Exercise 3
Learn essential protocols to detect potential biothreat agents in a safe environment.
Biothreat Rule Out or Refer: Virtual Knowledge Exercise 4
Learn essential laboratory protocols to detect potential biothreat agents in a safe environment.
Biothreat Rule Out or Refer: Virtual Knowledge Exercise 5
Learn essential laboratory protocols to detect potential biothreat agents in a safe environment.

Communication and outreach

Clinical laboratory fundamentals

Laboratory managers, laboratory professionals, and healthcare workers can maintain their laboratory skills with free online CDC training courses. Each course offers professional credits, such as P.A.C.E.®

Ready? Set? Test! Patient Testing is Important. Get the Right Results.
Learn how to safely and accurately perform waived testing.
Fundamentals of Chemical Fume Hood Safety
Fundamentals of Centrifuge Safety
Laboratory Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP)
Basic Molecular Biology Module 1: Basic Science
Basic Molecular Biology Module 2: Laboratory Practice
Basic Molecular Biology Module 3: Nucleic Acid Extraction
Basic Molecular Biology Module 4: Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Real-Time PCR

COVID-19

DLS collaborates with colleagues across CDC to ensure the latest Information for Laboratories about Coronavirus (COVID-19) is available and accessible. Stay informed with CDC's Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) website.

Introduction to Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA)
Learn foundational information about CLIA and its implications for clinical labs and facilities.
Fundamentals of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Clinical Laboratories
Considerations for SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Testing for Healthcare Providers Testing Individuals in the Community
Find detailed information about COVID-19 antigen diagnostic testing, including antigen test performa...

Frequently asked questions

Find answers to frequently asked questions about coronavirus (COVID-19) for laboratories, including:

  • General testing and regulatory requirements
  • Testing strategies
  • Anatomic pathology
  • Specimen handling

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)

Testing, data, and informatics

Guidance for SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Testing in Point-of-Care Settings
Clinical Guidance for SARS-CoV-2 rapid testing in point-of-care settings.
Considerations for SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Testing for Healthcare Providers Testing Individuals in the Community
LOINC In Vitro Diagnostic Test Code Mapping
Learn about Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) and Systematized Nomenclature of...
Free Educational Materials for Public Health and Clinical Laboratories
CDC’s Division of Laboratory Systems (DLS) has collaborated with public health and clinical laborato...
Interim Guidelines for Collecting and Handling of Clinical Specimens for COVID-19 Testing
Find guidance on collecting and handling clinical specimens for COVID-19 testing.
Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines for working with SARS-CoV-2
Find general and specific biosafety guidelines for handling SARS-CoV-2 specimens, including info on...
Laboratory Information for Reporting COVID-19 Data
Information for public health professionals on reporting COVID-19 data.
Introduction to Laboratory Informatics: Life of a Specimen
Introduction to Laboratory Informatics: Life of a Result

Contact us

Please email DLSInquiries@cdc.gov and use "Laboratory Preparedness and Response" in the subject line.

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