Leveraging the Laboratory Response Network: A Step Toward Implementing IHR (2005)

Abstract

The International Health Regulations (2005) outlines eight core capacities that focus on maintaining and strengthening the ability to prevent, detect, respond and report public health threats globally. As of May 2013, 100 of the 195 State Parties that agreed to implement the regulations have failed to meet all of the core capacities. The Laboratory Response Network (LRN), an infrastructure of public health laboratories capable of responding to biological, chemical, radiological, and other emerging public health threats, fulfills five out of eight core capacities and could serve as a model for successful implementation of IHR (2005).