NPHL Newsletter

May 2025

Edition

Rescheduled: June Laboratory Advisory Meeting

The Nebraska Statewide Laboratory Advisory Meeting, originally scheduled for June 9, 2025, has been rescheduled to Monday, June 16, 2025. A new Zoom link will be forwarded in the coming weeks.

For any questions or concerns regarding the new date, please contact NPHL at (402)559-9444 or nphlab@unmc.edu.

June NPHL Packing & Shipping Webinar

There are still seats available for the NPHL Packing and Shipping Dangerous Goods class on Thursday, June 26, 2025. This free, virtual one-day class will be 10:00 AM (CT) until 4:00 PM (CT).

This course is considered general awareness and familiarization training. It is appropriate for anyone responsible for packing, marking, labeling, and documentation of shipments for the transportation of Division 6.2 infectious substances (dangerous goods) and dry ice.

For information on signing up for this class, email NPHLab@unmc.edu.

Latest Guidance for Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus cereus biovar anthracis

The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) and the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), as part of their ongoing collaboration to support laboratory response to potential bioterrorism threats, have released updated guidelines for the identification and handling of Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus cereus biovar anthracis. This new guidance was published on the ASM website in November 2024.

The document provides comprehensive information on these organisms, including clinical presentations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) case definition, recommended laboratory methods, and required materials. A flowchart (pictured here) is also included to assist users in determining the appropriate steps to rule out or refer Bacillus species.

ASM LRN Sentinel Clinical Lab Protocols

Bacillus anthracis/bacillus cereus biovar anthracis

May Statewide Laboratory Advisory Meeting

At the May laboratory meeting, Ben Ayers, MLS, and Brianna Loecke, MPH, from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (NE DHHS) Enterics Program, gave a presentation on Cryptosporidium. Ben provided an overview of the testing performed at the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory (NPHL), while Brianna discussed how the state follows up on reported cases, including the role of genotyping in outbreak investigations.

Additionally, Dennis Leschinsky from the NE DHS Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Program noted a recent decline in reported cases of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia across the state—an encouraging trend.

May 2025 Laboratory Advisory Meeting

Revised NPHL Test Request Form

The NPHL Test Request Form was reviewed and updated in April 2025. Please begin using the new version immediately and discard any outdated forms.

Whenever possible, the laboratory should use NULirt to submit test requests. To create a new NUlirt account, go to http://nulirt.nebraskamed.com and click Register. If NULirt is not an option, then the new form is appropriate.

Please note: Sentinel Laboratories cannot order Rule-Out-and-Refer testing in NUlirt. Paper requisitions only

Click the button below to access the new NPHL Test Request Form.

NPHL Test Request Form

Tick Season

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Be prepared for ticks by reviewing how to prevent them, remove them, and identify them.

Below are some valuable resources:

What to do if you've been bitten by a tick: Tick Bite: What to Do (cdc.gov)
Preventing tick (and mosquito) bites: Fight the Bite!
Tick identification:
Field Guide to Ticks – TickEncounter (uri.edu)
Guidance in Nebraska, including help with identification: NE DHHS Vector-borne Disease Program at Vector-borne Disease

NE DHHS Tickborne Diseases in Nebraska

Link

NPHL.org

Link

NE DHHS EpiLink Newsletter

NE DHHS HAN

Do you have something you'd like to submit for the Newsletter? Is there something you'd like presented at the Statewide Laboratory Advisory Meeting?

Email us at NPHLab@unmc.edu.