At a glance
- CDC's Laboratory Outreach Communication System (LOCS) provides clinical laboratories with real-time information and guidance on diagnostic testing, laboratory safety, quality, and emergency communication from CDC.
- LOCS provides recipients with four message types: alerts, advisories, updates, and resources.
LOCS Message Level Types
Lab Alert: Provides vital, time-sensitive information for a specific incident or situation; warrants immediate action or attention by health officials, laboratory professionals, clinicians, and members of the public; and conveys the highest level of importance.
Lab Advisory: Provides important information for a specific incident or situation; contains recommendations or actionable items to be performed by public health officials, laboratory professionals, and/or clinicians; may not require immediate action. Lab
Update: Provides updated information regarding an incident or situation, or partner news; unlikely to require immediate action.
Lab Resource: Provides updated information about laboratory-related resources (for example, training); unlikely to require immediate action.