Lab Matters Fall 2018 | Page 19

PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE Slated End to BSO Funding Impacting PHL Biosafety Programs by Michael Marsico, MS, senior specialist, Biosafety and Biosecurity Funding from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for biosafety officer (BSO) positions in public health laboratories (PHLs) is slated to end in spring 2019, and the impact is already being felt in increased turnover for these positions. According to the 2017 APHL Biosafety and Biosecurity Survey, 21 PHLs (29.2%) will not be able to maintain and enhance biosafety and biosecurity activities at their laboratory due to federal funding cuts. They will lose a staff member with a wealth of technical biosafety knowledge and significant leadership and communication skills who is solely dedicated to improving laboratory safety. According to the 2017 APHL Biosafety and Biosecurity Survey, 21 PHLs (29.2%) will not be able to maintain and enhance biosafety and biosecurity activities at their laboratory due to federal funding cuts. Over the three-year funding period, BSOs have made enormous strides to review and improve biosafety practices and policies at PHLs and at clinical laboratories in their jurisdictions. They have developed online training modules on laboratory security, implemented incident response plans, convened regional biosafety training workshop for clinical laboratories and trained thousands of clinical laboratory staff in regulations for packaging and shipping of infectious substances. PublicHealthLabs @APHL “BSOs have become the backbone of the effort to strengthen biosafety programs in public health and clinical laboratories, said Michael Pentella, PhD, D(ABMM), director, State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa. “They fill an education gap on biosafety principles that is not covered in most degree programs and provide expert advice about specific situations. They keep the conversation going about biosafety so that it is not lost with all the other priorities facing laboratorians. Without the biosafety officers, clinical and public health laboratories would not have made any progress since the Ebola events in 2014.” Michael Stevenson, PhD, deputy director, Idaho Bureau of Laboratories (IBL) echoed Pentella’s comments. “Risk assessments are important to minimize exposure opportunities, and a biosafety officer, chemical hygiene officer or general lab safety officer can provide valuable education, training and resources to keep laboratorians safe when working with hazards.” Recognizing the critical importance of BSOs, APHL will continue to support them with resources and training opportunities and to advocate for dedicated, sustainable funding to maintain their essential work. n APHL.org Biosafety Outreach Officer Ed Kopp from Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Public Health Laboratories-Tampa demonstrates air flow in a Biological Safety Cabinet. Photo: BPHL-Tampa. Fall 2018 LAB MATTERS 17