GHSI EMERGENCY RADIONUCLIDE BIOASSAY LABORATORY NETWORK: SUMMARY OF THE SECOND EXERCISE

The Global Health Security Initiative (GHSI) established a laboratory network within the GHSI community to develop collectivesurge capacity for radionuclide bioassay in response to a radiological or nuclear emergency as a means of enhancingresponse capability, health outcomes and community resilience. GHSI partners conducted an exercise in collaboration withthe WHO Radiation Emergency Medical Preparedness and Assistance Network and the IAEA Response and AssistanceNetwork, to test the participating laboratories (18) for their capabilities in in vitro assay of biological samples, using a urinesample spiked with multiple high-risk radionuclides (90Sr, 106Ru, 137Cs, and 239Pu). Laboratories were required to submittheir reports within 72 h following receipt of the sample, using a pre-formatted template, on the procedures, methods and techniquesused to identify and quantify the radionuclides in the sample, as well as the bioassay results with a 95% confidenceinterval. All of the participating laboratories identified and measured all or some of the radionuclides in the sample. However,gaps were identified in both the procedures used to assay multiple radionuclides in one sample, as well as in the methods ortechniques used to assay specific radionuclides in urine. Two-third of the participating laboratories had difficulties in determiningall the radionuclides in the sample. Results from this exercise indicate that challenges remain with respect to ensuringthat results are delivered in a timely, consistent and reliable manner to support medical interventions. Laboratories within thenetworks are encouraged to work together to develop and maintain collective capabilities and capacity for emergency bioassay,which is an important component of radiation emergency response