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Antibiotic Resistance Laboratory Network

In the fall of 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention launched the Antibiotic Resistance Laboratory Network (ARLN).  The ARLN is a comprehensive laboratory capacity network consisting of the CDC, seven regional laboratories, the National Tuberculosis Molecular Surveillance Center, state public health laboratories, hospital, and other healthcare laboratories all working together to improve testing capacity for antibiotic resistant, difficult to treat pathogens such as carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA), and Acinetobacter baumanii (CRAB).  Also included are Candida species such as C. auris, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and other healthcare-associated infectious pathogens.

As part of the ARLN, OLS performs testing to further characterize resistance mechanisms of CRE, CRPA, and CRAB using Etest(R), modified carbapenem inactivation method (mCIM) to detect production of carbapenemase, and Cepheid(R) GeneXpert(R) Xpert Carba-R to detect mechanism (gene) of resistance.  OLS also plans to implement whole genome sequencing in the near future.

To learn about submission criteria and how to participate in this program, click HERE.

Additionally, OLS will soon provide colonization screening to detect carbapenemase-resistant organisms to aid in reducing the risk of spread of these organisms in healthcare facilities.  Individuals can carry these organisms without becoming sick or showing symptoms, which is known as colonization.  These people can spread the bacteria to others without knowing.  It is important to detect these colonized individuals promptly so that additional infection control measures can be put into place to reduce the risk of spread.


Forms and Instructions

Colonization Screening Kit Request Form (coming soon)

Resource Links

ARLN Fact Sheet

Contact Information

Phone: 304-558-3530 extension 20134
Fax: 304-558-6210