Medical laboratory professionals are recognized at the end of April in the United States. We want to recognize here this group of unsung heroes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Marian Downing, Shoolah Escott, and Michael Marsico will present a poster during the upcoming virtual APHL 2021 Conference showcasing Biorisk Management tips and tools offered by ABSA International that may be of value to the laboratory professional interested in biosafety. Here are the Top-5 tools and resources:

  1. Training Tools and resources type “risk assessment” in the search box to retrieve manuscripts, templates, and webinars. In addition, online education is facilitated through webinars and on-demand modules provide opportunities to foster professional development. Upcoming webinars include
  2. Databases for Risk Groups and Laboratory-Acquired Infections provide existing classifications for Virus, Bacteria, Parasite, and Fungus; and documented LAIs.
  3. The Emerging Infectious Diseases Toolboxes provide current information on the pathogens, transmission, prevention and biosafety-related issues for SARS-CoV-2, Ebola, Zika, Influenza and Antibiotic/Antimicrobial Resistant pathogens.
  4. Public Health and Biosafety distribution lists serve the biosafety and biosecurity professionals by providing a platform to post questions and share resources. Contact the ABSA Office if you would like to subscribe to one or both lists.
  5. Mentoring opportunities for the professionals interested in exchanging “experience-based biosafety knowledge“. The new mentoring program BioRisk Management Connect (BRM Connect) specifically provides an opportunity to develop and strengthen skills for conducting biorisk assessments and develop BR management programs.

Let us know if there are other topics that you would like to see in this blog.