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WHO Collaborating Centre on Biosafety Technology and Consultive Services |
The Office of Laboratory Security, Public Health Agency of Canada, is Canada's national authority for Biosafety and it's mission is to ensure effective, evidence-based biosafety interventions on a national basis through regulatory control, surveillance, applied research and timely dissemination of information related to needs, priorities and strategies.
The Office, as mandated by the Human Pathogens Importation Regulations of the Department of Health Act, is responsible for issuing permits for the importation of human pathogens after ensuring appropriate biological containment. The containment levels and facility standards required are outlined by the Office in national distributed publications including the Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines. In support of this program, consultive services are provided to microbiological laboratories for the planning of facilities from start-up to commissioning. The Office also acts as a national resource centre by providing training courses, material safety data sheets, biosafety listings, a film loan service and other information.
The Office received its designation as a WHO Collaborating Centre in Biosafety Technology and Consultive Services in 1983. As a WHO collaborating centre, the Office provides guidelines and safety programs for microbiology laboratories worldwide including consultive services in biocontainment technology and biosafety, biosafety training, the dissemination of information, the provision of a biosafety resource centre, surveillance and applied biosafety research programs.
Terms of Reference:
1. To provide consultive services to organizations and institutions for assistance in biocontainment technology and biosafety, including:
- developing biosafety and biocontainment guidelines and standards
- providing advice on the construction/renovation of laboratories from concept design to commissioning
- providing advice on biocontainment technology and equipment design
- performing risk assessments and classifications of infectious substances, new and emerging pathogens, novel recombinant organisms
- offering assistance in problems of biosafety in microbiology laboratories
- providing advice on emergency response measures
2. To provide biosafety training, the dissemination of information and provision of a biosafety resource centre, including:
3. To provide surveillance and applied research programs on selected topics in biocontainment and biosafety.
Office of Laboratory Security
Public Health Agency of Canada
100 Colonnade Road, LOC: 6201A
Ottawa, ON
Canada, K1A 0K9
tel: (613) 957-1779
fax: (613) 941- 0596
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ols-bsl/
maureen_best@phac-aspc.gc.ca
Maureen Best, RM (CCM), MSc.
Director
Head, Collaborating Centre
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