Bioterrorism / Chemical Terrorism

The Missouri State Public Health Laboratory (MSPHL) has prepared specimen collection guidelines for bacteria or viruses that might be used in a bioterrorism event. These guidelines are specific to specimen collection during a suspected bio-terrorism incident as determined by the Department of Health and Senior Services. It is important to remember that the available information will vary widely from one agent to another.

Guidelines will be updated as more information becomes available. If an event should occur, check the revision date on any information you might have printed against the revision date of the material currently available at this site. When updates are posted, the revision date will be changed.

Chemical Terrorism

MSPHL has prepared specimen collection guidelines for chemical agents that might be used in a terrorism event. These guidelines will be updated as changes are made or more information becomes available.

MSPHL has partnered with the CDC Chemical Laboratory Response Network (LRN-C) to develop capacity to respond to a public health emergency in a chemical terrorism event. This capacity will augment MSPHL with the ability to analyze clinical samples for the presence of various chemical contaminants in order to provide the following event support:

  • Identify the agent(s) released
  • Identify the limits of the exposure
  • Provide evidentiary information for law enforcement professionals
  • Quantify the levels of exposure for an individual
  • Identify cases of non-exposure

If a chemical terrorism event should occur, measures are in place to provide clinical sample analysis of chemical terrorism samples through LRN-C. The CDC has the capacity to conduct a rapid toxic screen of chemical contaminants collected from individuals potentially exposed to chemical terrorism agents. These samples must be initiated and submitted through MSPHL's Laboratory Preparedness, Education and Safety (LPES) Team.

Related Links