Improving National Laboratory Capability and Capacity to Measure Human Exposure to Synthetic Opioids (Webinar)

The CDC laboratory at the National Center for Environmental Health is collaborating with public, private, and academic laboratories to respond to the opioid overdose epidemic. Some states are leveraging Laboratory Response Network for Chemical Threats (LRN-C) infrastructure to respond to the epidemic.

This webinar will cover performance of screening immunoassays, with highlights on cross-reactivity gaps in contrast to fentanyl chemical structure. Traceable Opioid Materials (TOMKITS), developed by CDC, will be described. These kits have been designed to measure fentanyl-like compounds reported in the DEA Emerging Threat Reports. CDC is sharing these reference kits with public, private, and academic laboratories in order to encourage more consistent laboratory measurements across the United States.

Detailed Learning Objectives:
- How to contact the national Laboratory Response Network for Chemical Threats (LRN-C)
- How immunoassays have varying sensitivities for fentanyl analogs
- How DEA registered laboratories can obtain free fentanyl reference materials (TOMKITS)

Funding for this Forensic Technology Center of Excellence event has been provided by the National Institute of Justice.