Today, the Laboratory Response Network (LRN) is a multi-level network of laboratories across the United States and internationally that work together in an integrated and coordinated way to provide a rapid response to public health emergencies. The LRN concept of operations is based on a system of safety and proficiency.
Some of the goals of the LRN are to:
- Establish standardized protocols used for the identification of pathogens that carry a high consequence
- Provide training, rapid testing, timely notification, and secure messaging of laboratory results
- Provide guidance for safe and effective handling of suspected threat agents
- Serve as a source of expert advice for agents of concern
- Identify threat agents using complex molecular methods
