National laboratory inventory for global poliovirus containment--United States, November 2003.

In anticipation of the interruption of wild poliovirus (WPV) transmission, the United States has joined 122 other poliomyelitis-free countries in taking steps to minimize the risk for reintroducing WPV from laboratories to communities. In October 2002, a nationwide survey of laboratories and biomedical institutions (e.g., universities) that oversee multiple laboratories was conducted to identify those that might be holding WPV-containing materials and to establish a national inventory of institutions and laboratories retaining such materials. A total of 32,429 laboratories and biomedical institutions listed in multiple databases were mailed letters to alert laboratories of the impending global eradication of polio and encourage disposal of unneeded WPV-containing materials. The national inventory is a list of institutions and laboratories whose staff will be kept informed of eradication progress and appropriate WPV-containment procedures. This report summarizes use of the survey to create the national inventory.