42 USC 247d-10 - Pilot program for public health laboratories to detect fentanyl and other synthetic opioids

U.S Code last checked for updates: May 06, 2024

§ 247d–10.

Pilot program for public health laboratories to detect fentanyl and other synthetic opioids

(a)

Grants

(b)

Detection activities

The Secretary, in consultation with the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Attorney General of the United States, and the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, shall, for purposes of this section, develop or identify—

(1)

best practices for safely handling and testing synthetic opioids, including fentanyl and its analogues, including with respect to reference materials, instrument calibration, and quality control protocols;

(2)

reference materials and quality control standards related to synthetic opioids, including fentanyl and its analogues, to enhance—

(A)

clinical diagnostics;

(B)

postmortem data collection; and

(C)

portable testing equipment utilized by law enforcement and public health officials; and

(3)

procedures for the identification of new and emerging synthetic opioid formulations and procedures for reporting those findings to appropriate law enforcement agencies and Federal, State, and local public health laboratories and health departments, as appropriate.

(c)

Laboratories

The Secretary shall require recipients of grants or cooperative agreements under subsection (a) to—

(1)

follow the best practices established under subsection (b) and have the appropriate capabilities to provide laboratory testing of controlled substances, such as synthetic fentanyl, and biospecimens for the purposes of aggregating and reporting public health information to Federal, State, and local public health officials, laboratories, and other entities the Secretary deems appropriate;

(2)

work with law enforcement agencies and public health authorities, as practicable;

(3)

provide early warning information to Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies and public health authorities regarding trends or other data related to the supply of synthetic opioids, including fentanyl and its analogues;

(4)

provide biosurveillance capabilities with respect to identifying trends in adverse health outcomes associated with non-fatal exposures; and

(5)

provide diagnostic testing, as appropriate and practicable, for non-fatal exposures of emergency personnel, first responders, and other individuals.

(d)

Authorization of appropriations

(Pub. L. 115–271, title VII, § 7011, Oct. 24, 2018, 132 Stat. 4008.)

cite as: 42 USC 247d-10