A survey of clinical laboratory professionals has found that less than half think their laboratory could effectively respond in a hazardous chemical emergency. As a result of these findings, the American Society for Clinical Pathology will launch a series of online training courses to help clinical laboratories better prepare for a hazardous chemical event- anything from a train derailment to a chemical attack.

The survey results appear in an article titled "Chemical Terrorism: How Prepared are the Clinical Laboratories?" in the February issue of ASCP's LABMEDICINE magazine.

"ASCP has recognized the need to support the clinical laboratory in preparing for a hazardous chemical event," wrote authors Donna Surges Tatum, PhD, CAE, of Meaningful Measurement Inc., in Chicago, and William Becker, DO, MPH, of the Ohio Department of Health Laboratory in Columbus. "Online training courses are under development to fill the gaps and provide guidance where necessary."

ASCP sent a link to the online survey to 13,396 laboratory professionals who work in such roles as medical laboratory director; assistant medical laboratory director; administrative laboratory director; section or department heads; and manager and assistant manager. The survey was open from Aug. 17, 2005, through Nov. 14, 2005. It included 100 questions in six sections covering hospital services and facilities; planning and communication; pathology and clinical laboratory services and equipment; specimen collection and handling; chemical warfare agents; and training. It took about 30 minutes to complete. Five hundred ninety nine people responded, an impressive 4.5 percent response rate. Of these, 582 submitted useable surveys. Responses came from 45 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia and eight locations outside the United States.

"Results from this survey provided crucial information on the state of preparedness for a catastrophic chemical event," the authors wrote. "Hospital laboratories have some serious concerns about their ability to respond. The laboratories may not have adequate resources and instruments. There is a need for written protocols for specimen collection and handling, and they do not have adequate information concerning chemical warfare agents."