Introduction to Bioterrorism (Online Course)
Garland Pendergraph
Introduction to Bioterrorism addresses the threat of bioterrorism and what clinical laboratories and laboratorians can do to be prepared. The course covers major biological and chemical agents (including their warning signs and symptoms) and the laboratory's role in the nationwide system for detecting these agents. The emphasis of the course is not on fear but on responsible action that can save lives in the unlikely event of a terrorist act.
Help meet laboratory continuing education requirements
An individual subscription includes access to Introduction to Bioterrorism and 47 other online courses. Earn CE to help meet laboratory continuing education requirements for AMT, ASCP, NCA, and more. Over 85 ASCLS P.A.C.E.® credits are available.
Laboratory subscriptions include unlimited access to Introduction to Bioterrorism and other online safety, compliance, and CE courses for 5 - 1000+ users, plus MediaLab's powerful, easy-to-use learning management system for tracking and documenting laboratory safety and compliance training.
Continuing Education Credits
Objectives
- Know the working definition of terrorism.
- Have a general knowledge of the critical agents that might be suspect for a biological or chemical terrorism event and some of the clinical manifestations caused by the highest priority agents.
- Understand the significance of the Homeland Security Alert System (HSAS).
- Be familiar with the clinical laboratory’s response in a biological or chemical terrorist alert and know what you can do to protect yourself and others.
- Have general knowledge about what you can do at work and in your community regarding preparedness, response, and determent of a possible act of terrorism.
Course Outline
Click on a link in the outline to view a sample page from this course.
- Terrorism Defined
- Biological Agents
- Biological Agents
- Categories of Biological Agents
- Category A
- Category A Agents
- Category B
- Category B Agents
- Category B Agents in Food and Water
- Category C
- Category C Agents
- High profile landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty or the White House are the only places at risk from terrorist attack.
- Biological agents that are the easiest to disseminate, or that pass most easily from person to person are found in Category:
- Recognizing Biological Agents as WMDs
- Recognizing Biological Agents as WMDs
- Agent: Smallpox (Virus)
- Agent: Anthrax (Bacterium)
- Agent: Pneumonic plague (Bacterium)
- Agent: Botulism (bacterium)
- Agent: Tularemia (bacterium)
- Agent: Viral hemorrhagic fevers (Ebola, Marburg, Lassa and Argentine)
- Advantages of using Biological Agents as WMDs
- Advantages of using Biological Agents (cont.)
- Disadvantages of using Biological Agents
- Early symptoms of inhaled Anthrax include
- Is the psychological impact of a biological attack an advantage or a disadvantage of using biological weapons?
- Chemical Agents
- Chemical Agents
- Types of Chemical Agents
- Lung-damaging or Choking Agents
- Blood Agents
- Blister Agents
- Nerve Agents
- Advantages of Using Chemical Agents as WMDs
- Disadvantages of Using Chemical Agents as WMDs
- We are more at risk from biological WMDs than chemical WMDs because chemical weapons are very difficult to produce.
- Laboratory Response
- Laboratory Response
- The LRN Pyramid
- Sentinel Labs
- Reference Labs
- National Labs
- Laboratory Response - Chemical
- Laboratory Response - Chemical, Level 3
- Laboratory Response - Chemical, Level 2
- Laboratory Response - Chemical, Level 1
- In the LRN hierarchy, large organizations like the CDC, the United States Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases, and the Naval Medic...
- In the Chemical Component of the LRN, there 60 laboratories divided into 3 levels. But at the top, with unique facilities unavailable to the level 1-3...
- Your Response
- At Work
- Your Response – At Work
- Physical Security
- Electronic Security
- Suspicious Packages or Envelopes
- Suspicious Packages or Envelopes (cont.)
- What do I do if I find a suspicious package?
- Responding to an Alarm
- Be Prepared
- The Fear Factor in Bioterrorism
- What You Can Do to Prevent Panic
- If you see a suspicious package, the first thing you should do is take it to a safe location and call the police.
- Beyond the Workplace
- Your Response - Beyond the Workplace
- Be Aware
- General Preparedness in Your Home
- General Preparedness in Your Community
- Homeland Security Advisory System Overview
- If there is a low threat of terrorist attack, then the Homeland Security advisory level will be:
- What If?
- What if...?
- What if: Dirty Bomb Attack
- In Case of a Dirty Bomb Attack
- What if: Chemical Attack
- In Case of a Chemical Attack
- What if: Biological Attack
- In Case of a Biological Attack
- In the End
- Additional Information
Additional Information
Intended Audience: clinical laboratory science students and medical technologists and technicians seeking review or continuing education opportunities. It is also appropriate medical students, pathology residents, and pathologists.
Level of Instruction: Intermediate
Author Credentials: Dr. Garland Pendergraph is currently Laboratory Director for Doctors Laboratory, Inc, at their Savannah, Brunswick, and Kingsland, GA locations. He has served as Laboratory Director at two hospitals, and as Chairman of the Medical Technology Departments at East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C. and at the Western Carolina University at Cullowhee N.C. He is the author of various books, monographs, and scientific publications. Dr. Pendergraph received a Ph.D in 1969 at the University of North Carolina, with a major in Parasitology and minor in mycology and bacteriology. He is a member of numerous professional organizations including the American Association of Bioanalysts, the Americal Society of Microbiologists, and is certified by NCA as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist.
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