SPADA

Issues relevant to implementation of

smallpox diagnostics

•

Biosafety:

–

containment;

–

Standard vs. Universal vs. Airborne precautions;

–

vaccination

•

Biosecurity

•

Reagents

–

WHO, CDC, select agent recommendations on use of

Variola virus

DNA

•

Centralized/regionalized testing

–

Transportation of specimens

•

QA/QC, Proficiency testing: implementation

•

Communication between clinician/epidemiologists/laboratory

–

Clinical history, case patient photos

•

Development of a disease confirmatory algorithm

–

Screening tests, confirmatory tests: regional vs. centralized

–

Presumed positive, Confirmed Positive

–

Communication of results, and public health response

–

Role of viral isolation by culture

LRN