SHL responds to white powder event
An Iowa clinical laboratorian examines inactive cultures of infectious diseases during the 2017 SHL Emergency Preparedness workshop.
Staff who are trained in the specialized skill of working with these substances supported the investigation by conducting analysis of the white power. Testing results identified it as a non-hazardous, over-the-counter medication that was not a threat to the patient or the care team.
SHL provides workshops to train clinical laboratorians from across the state how to rule-out potential agents of bioterrorism. The annual program provides in-depth information and hands-on experience to inform clinicians about working with select agents that could be used in bioterrorism.
