The Navy Forward Laboratory during Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

The Navy Forward Laboratory (NFL) was an advanced infectious disease laboratory which provided a theater-wide reference diagnostic capability during Operations Desert Shield/Storm. During Operation Desert Shield, when massive numbers of troops were being deployed, the NFL primarily supported medical personnel in the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. During the war, the laboratory provided rapid biologic warfare diagnostic support. The NFL demonstrated the benefits of a comprehensive, on-site diagnostic laboratory when large numbers of troops are deployed to high-risk areas and demonstrated the importance of military medical research laboratories for training of scientists and physicians, threat assessment, and product development.