Chemical Incident Response

The Tennessee Department of Health Division of Laboratory Services provides healthcare facility laboratory outreach support for local, state and national preparedness response plans related to chemical release health emergencies. Laboratory testing would be an integral part of a response to these events.

The Division of Laboratory Services offers free on-site training as guidance for healthcare facility emergency response to human chemical exposure incidents. Please contact the Chemical Terrorism Coordinator to obtain more information or to schedule a training session at 615-262-6399.

The TN Chemical Terrorism Laboratory is a CDC (LRN-C) classified level 2 laboratory and must maintain testing capabilities forexposures to chemical terrorism agents such as cyanide, toxic metals, and toxic industrial chemicals. Although Level 2 laboratories test a smaller list of chemical threat agents, LRN-C methods are customizable and can be readily adapted to detect broad classifications of new and emerging threat agents.

For urgent inquiries or assistance during non-business hours, please contact the Chemical Terrorism Coordinator at 615-262-6384.

There are unique requirements for specimen collection, storage, packaging and shipment of clinical specimens collected during a chemical exposure event.

 TO REPORT A POSSIBLE CHEMICAL TERRORIST INCIDENT, CALL THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY DESK AT (213) 989-7140.