GHSI EMERGENCY RADIONUCLIDE BIOASSAY LABORATORY NETWORK: SUMMARY OF A RECENT EXERCISE

The Global Health Security Initiative (GHSI) established a laboratory network within the GHSI community to develop theircollective surge capacity for radionuclide bioassay in response to a radiological or nuclear emergency. A recent exercise was conductedto test the participating laboratories for their capabilities in screening and in vitro assay of biological samples, performinginternal dose assessment and providing advice on medical intervention, if necessary, using a urine sample spiked with a singleradionuclide, 241Am. The laboratories were required to submit their reports according to the exercise schedule and using pre-formattedtemplates. Generally, the participating laboratories were found to be capable with respect to rapidly screening samplesfor radionuclide contamination, measuring the radionuclide in the samples, assessing the intake and radiation dose, and providingadvice on medical intervention. However, gaps in bioassay measurement and dose assessment have been identified. Thenetwork may take steps to ensure that procedures and practices within this network be harmonised and a follow-up exercise beorganised on a larger scale, with potential participation of laboratories from the networks coordinated by the InternationalAtomic Energy Agency and theWorld Health Organization