[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 117 (Friday, June 17, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 36507]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-13123]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention


CDC Town Hall Meeting on Laboratory Biosafety--Use of Laboratory 
Instruments

AGENCY: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Department of 
Health and Human Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), located 
within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), announces a 
meeting regarding biosafety and laboratory instrumentation.

DATES: The meeting will be held on Friday, June 24, 2022, from 10 a.m. 
to 3:30 p.m., EDT.

ADDRESSES: This meeting is open to the public through a virtual format, 
limited only by the webcast lines available. Registration is not 
required. Visit the CDC Safe Labs website for the meeting webcast at 
https://www.cdc.gov/safelabs/biosafety-townhall.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nancy E. Cornish M.D., Center for 
Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory Services, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Mailstop V24-3, Atlanta, 
Georgia 30329-4018; Phone: (404)498-2720; Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Purpose: The purpose of this meeting is to provide an overview and 
discussion on laboratory biosafety when using laboratory instruments to 
test human and biologic specimens. Meeting topics are listed in the 
``Matters to be Considered'' section of this notice.
    Matters to be Considered: The agenda will include presentations and 
discussions on four topic areas: (1) instrument design and 
incorporating biosafety; (2) perceived risks to laboratory personnel 
and impact on testing; (3) independent assessment of risks and 
instrument design; and (4) a discussion of potential areas of 
collaboration to address issues discussed during the meeting. There 
will be prepared presentations, discussions among presenters and 
panelists, and a period for questions and public comments. Agenda items 
are subject to change as priorities dictate.
    Background: CDC's Division of Laboratory Systems is hosting the 
town hall meeting in collaboration with clinical and public health 
laboratory partners, and instrument manufacturers to address clinical 
laboratory biosafety. The recent publication Clinical Laboratory 
Biosafety Gaps: Lessons Learned from Past Outbreaks Reveal a Path to a 
Safer Future (Cornish NE. et. al. Clinical Laboratory Biosafety Gaps: 
Lessons Learned from Past Outbreaks Reveal a Path to a Safer Future. 
Clin Microbiol Rev. July 2021, Vol. 34/3 e00126-18) discussed critical 
gaps in clinical laboratory biosafety, including issues related to the 
use and disinfection of laboratory instruments. The discussion and 
feedback generated during the meeting will assist in evaluating current 
biosafety guidance and identify opportunities for improvement in 
clinical laboratory biosafety and use of laboratory instrumentation. 
This meeting is a listening session. Participants may provide 
individual advice or perspectives. CDC is not seeking consensus advice 
or recommendations from participants.

    Dated: June 14, 2022.
Angela K. Oliver,
Executive Secretary, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2022-13123 Filed 6-16-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4163-18-P