Overview[]
The Integrated Consortium of Laboratory Networks (ICLN) is a coordinated and operational system of laboratory networks that is designed to provide timely, high-quality, and interpretable results for early detection of acts of terrorism and other events that require integrated laboratory-response capabilities. The ICLN’s individual laboratory networks focus on detecting biological threat agents that affect humans, animals, or plants and that contaminate the air, water, or food supply.
The laboratory networks that constitute the ICLN are: Laboratory Response Network (LRN); National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN); U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and NIFA’s National Plant Diagnostic Network; U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Inspection Service and Department of Health and Human Services’s Food and Drug Administration’s Food Emergency Response Network (FERN); and the Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Response Laboratory Network (ERLN).
The ICLN has created a capabilities assessment of member network laboratories and established working groups to address deficiencies identified by member lab networks. Additionally, the ICLN provides a forum for laboratory network representatives to provide assistance in the event of a biological, chemical, or radiological contamination emergency.