Los Angeles County
Department of Public Health
Public Health Laboratory
12750 Erickson Avenue
Downey, California 90242

Laboratory Director
Nicole M. Green, Ph.D, D (ABMM)
Phone: (562) 658-1300
Fax: (562) 401-5999

Monday - Friday
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM to 4:30 PM

Mission

To develop and maintain Public Health readiness to respond in and around the Los Angeles County area for the proper collection, transport, and storage of clinical specimens for chemical analysis following an intentional or accidental chemical release; and maintain readiness within the national LRN-C structure to provide mutual support for laboratory surge capacity that is required for all intentional or accidental chemical releases of national significance.

Laboratory Response Information and Forms

• Shipping Instructions for Specimens Collected from People Who May Have Been Exposed to Chemical-Terrorism Agents (pdf)
• Blood and Urine Specimen Collection Flowchart (pdf)
• Blood Shipping Instructions Flowchart (pdf)
• Urine Shipping Instructions Flowchart (pdf)
• Blood Specimen Collection and Shipping Manifest (pdf)
• Urine Specimen Collection and Shipping Manifest (pdf)
• Chain of Custody Form (pdf) (OK to use facility-specific form)
• Clinical Specimen Submission Form (pdf) (OK to use facility-specific form)

Chemical Exposure Resources for Medical Facilities

• California Poison Control System - Tel. (800) 222-1222
• CDC Emergency Preparedness and Response – Chemical Emergencies (website link)
  • Medical management guidelines for chemical agents cyanide, ethylene glycol, nerve agents, and others (website link)
  • Toxicological profiles for chemical agents cyanide, ethylene glycol, mustard gas, and others (website link)
  • CDC Emergency Room Procedures in Chemical Hazard Emergencies (website link).
• EMSA Patient Decontamination Recommendations for the Hospitals (pdf)
• Terrorism Agent Information and Treatment Guidelines for Clinicians and Hospitals (pdf)
• California State LRN-C (website link)
• LA County Emergency Preparedness and Response Program – Chemical Threats (website link)
• Cal/OSHA program for providing assistance to employers and workers about workplace safety and health issues (website link)
• OSHA Best Practices for First Receivers

For urgent inquiries or assistance during non-business hours, call the LA County Operator at (213) 974-1234 and ask for the LRN On-Call Person.

E-Mail: LAC-LRNC@ph.lacounty.gov

TO REPORT A POSSIBLE CHEMICAL TERRORIST INCIDENT, CALL THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY DESK AT (213) 989-7140.