The first step in advancing the chemical terrorism focus of this cooperative agreement involved identifying several experts who would be willing to serve on the ASCP Chemical Emergency Response Preparedness Work Group. The advisory group members agreeing to serve included William Becker, DO, MPH, FASCP, Medical Director, Ohio Department of Health Laboratory, Columbus Ohio, Ronald Laessig, PhD, Director, Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, Madison, WI., Robert Lindner, MD, PhD, Medical Laboratory Director, Indiana State Department of Health and Neil Kelly, MT(ASCP), Manager, Applied Learning Technologies, ASCP Staff.

The workgroup developed an assessment tool that was e-mailed in August 2005 to 13,246 ASCP members consisting of Clinical Laboratory Managers and Directors. The survey results were analyzed and the data was evaluated. Having carefully reviewed the survey outcomes, the work group identified the following topic areas benefiting from an educational intervention:

• Emergency Preparedness Planning
• Communication and Coordination Activities
• Specimen Collection and Handling
• Chemical Agents Overview, e.g., consequences of exposure

The ASCP work group will collaborate with CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH) to develop an on-line course addressing each of the subject areas. A pre and post test will accompany the course and provide immediate evaluation and feedback. The tentative plans are to have the e-courses available for use early in 2007.