Biosecurity

In 2008 the Australian Government established a two-tiered list of Security Sensitive Biological Agents (SSBA) as part of the SSBA Regulatory Scheme for the control of select agents and toxins. Funding was subsequently made available through the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care to establish RCPAQAP Biosecurity, with the aim of providing a quality assurance and proficiency testing program (PTP) for Tier 1 and Tier 2 SSBA, other potential agents and communicable disease threats. The program now offers surveys free of charge to Australian public health laboratories and for a fee to Australian private pathology and approved overseas laboratories with a view to building and enhancing laboratory capacity and capability to detect, analyse, identify and report on these agents

Declaration
This module is funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Health. Information such as participation demographics, overall results and kit performance is shared with them only. The information provided is de-identified in such a way that no individual laboratory’s results will be disclosed.

 

Refer to the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care website for current Security Sensitive Biological Agents Lists.

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Bacterial Specimen Module

Bacterial SSBA or related organisms

Catalogue Number

22020102

Frequency (No of surveys/year)

2

Cases/samples per survey

Up to 4

Sample Type

Simulated clinical sample containing inactivated or attenuated bacterial SSBA or related organisms

Sample volume

1 mL

Schedule

August, October

Measurand/Test

Bacterial SSBA

Storage and Handling

Upon receipt, store samples at 2-8°C

Dangerous Goods (UN3373)

This survey material was packed in compliance with IATA PI.650 for Biological Substance Category B, UN 3373

Additional Comments

Available free of charge to Australian public health laboratories that require the capability to test for SSBA, other potential agents and communicable disease threats and to approved international laboratories for a fee that reflects the cost of the modules’ production.

Product details last updated on November 30, 2023

Biopreparedness Exercise – Bacterial

Available free of charge to Australian public health laboratories that require the capability to test for SSBA, other potential agents and communicable disease threats. Currently, this program can only be offered to Australian laboratories. Overseas laboratories can express interest in the program and the RCPAQAP will try to accommodate these requests if possible.

What's new

New for 2024

Catalogue Number

22030102

Frequency (No of surveys/year)

1

Cases/samples per survey

Up to 4

Sample Type

Environmental sample containing inactivated or attenuated bacterial SSBA or related organisms

Sample volume

1mL

Schedule

June

Measurand/Test

Bacillus anthracis

Storage and Handling

Upon receipt, store samples at 2-8°C

Product details last updated on August 31, 2023

Emerging Biological Threats – Molecular

Currently, this program can only be offered to Australian laboratories due to regulatory requirements.

Overseas Laboratories can express interest in the program and the RCPAQAP will try to accommodate these requests if possible.

Catalogue Number

22050102

Frequency (No of surveys/year)

1

Cases/samples per survey

Up to 6

Sample Type

Inactivated virus for nucleic acid testing (NAT)

Sample volume

0.5 mL

Schedule

November

Measurand/Test

TBC

Storage and Handling

Upon receipt, store samples at 2-8°C

Additional Comments

Available free of charge to Australian public health laboratories that require the capability to test for SSBA, other potential agents and communicable disease threats.

Product details last updated on November 30, 2023

Environmental Specimen Module

Anthrax and Botulinum toxin

Catalogue Number

22070102

Frequency (No of surveys/year)

2

Cases/samples per survey

Up to 4

Sample Type

Environmental sample containing inactivated toxin or attenuated bacteria for testing

Sample volume

1mL

Schedule

February, April

Measurand/Test

Ricin, Abrin

Storage and Handling

Upon receipt, store samples at 2-8°C

Dangerous Goods (UN3373)

This survey material was packed in compliance with IATA PI.650 for Biological Substance Category B, UN 3373

Additional Comments

Available free of charge to Australian public health laboratories that require the capability to test for SSBA, other potential agents and communicable disease threats and to approved international laboratories for a fee that reflects the cost of the modules’ production

Product details last updated on August 31, 2023

SSBA eLearning Module – Anthrax

SSBA eLearning available to all laboratories within Australia, to RCPA Microbiology Registrars free of charge and to Australian Government Department of Health approved international laboratories for a fee that reflects the cost of the modules’ production.

This module provides general and technical training for laboratory staff. eLearning Modules generally take 60mins to complete and there is a questionnaire at the end. Please note that you will need speakers or preferably earphones to listen to the audio.

Available free of charge to Australian public health laboratories that require the capability to test for SSBA, other potential agents and communicable disease threats and to approved private laboratories and international laboratories for a fee that reflects the cost of the modules’ production.

Catalogue Number

24010102

Schedule

Available all year

Product details last updated on September 10, 2020

SSBA eLearning Module – Botulism

SSBA eLearning available to all laboratories within Australia, to RCPA Microbiology Registrars free of charge and to Australian Government Department of Health approved international laboratories for a fee that reflects the cost of the modules’ production.

This module provides general and technical training for laboratory staff. eLearning Modules generally take 60mins to complete and there is a questionnaire at the end. Please note that you will need speakers or preferably earphones to listen to the audio.

Available free of charge to Australian public health laboratories that require the capability to test for SSBA, other potential agents and communicable disease threats and to approved private laboratories and international laboratories for a fee that reflects the cost of the modules’ production.

Catalogue Number

24060102

Schedule

Available all year

Product details last updated on September 10, 2020

SSBA eLearning Module – Ebola

SSBA eLearning available to all laboratories within Australia, to RCPA Microbiology Registrars free of charge and to Australian Government Department of Health approved international laboratories for a fee that reflects the cost of the modules’ production.

This module provides general and technical training for laboratory staff. eLearning Modules generally take 60mins to complete and there is a questionnaire at the end. Please note that you will need speakers or preferably earphones to listen to the audio.

Catalogue Number

24020102

Schedule

Available all year

Product details last updated on September 2, 2020

SSBA eLearning Module – Exotic flaviviruses

SSBA eLearning available to all laboratories within Australia, to RCPA Microbiology Registrars free of charge and to Australian Government Department of Health approved international laboratories for a fee that reflects the cost of the modules’ production.

This module provides general and technical training for laboratory staff. eLearning Modules generally take 60mins to complete and there is a questionnaire at the end. Please note that you will need speakers or preferably earphones to listen to the audio.

Available free of charge to Australian public health laboratories that require the capability to test for SSBA, other potential agents and communicable disease threats and to approved private laboratories and international laboratories for a fee that reflects the cost of the modules’ production.

What's new

New for 2024

Catalogue Number

24130102

Schedule

Available all year

Product details last updated on September 7, 2023

SSBA eLearning Module – History of Biowarfare/Bioterrorism

SSBA eLearning available to all laboratories within Australia, to RCPA Microbiology Registrars free of charge and to Australian Government Department of Health approved international laboratories for a fee that reflects the cost of the modules’ production.

This module provides general and technical training for laboratory staff. eLearning Modules generally take 60mins to complete and there is a questionnaire at the end. Please note that you will need speakers or preferably earphones to listen to the audio.

Available free of charge to Australian public health laboratories that require the capability to test for SSBA, other potential agents and communicable disease threats and to approved private laboratories and international laboratories for a fee that reflects the cost of the modules’ production.

Catalogue Number

24070102

Schedule

Available all year

Product details last updated on April 5, 2022

SSBA eLearning Module – Plague

SSBA eLearning available to all laboratories within Australia, to RCPA Microbiology Registrars free of charge and to Australian Government Department of Health approved international laboratories for a fee that reflects the cost of the modules’ production.

This module provides general and technical training for laboratory staff. eLearning Modules generally take 60mins to complete and there is a questionnaire at the end. Please note that you will need speakers or preferably earphones to listen to the audio.

Available free of charge to Australian public health laboratories that require the capability to test for SSBA, other potential agents and communicable disease threats and to approved private laboratories and international laboratories for a fee that reflects the cost of the modules’ production.

Catalogue Number

24030102

Schedule

Available all year

Product details last updated on September 10, 2020

SSBA eLearning Module – Smallpox

SSBA eLearning available to all laboratories within Australia, to RCPA Microbiology Registrars free of charge and to Australian Government Department of Health approved international laboratories for a fee that reflects the cost of the modules’ production.

This module provides general and technical training for laboratory staff. eLearning Modules generally take 60mins to complete and there is a questionnaire at the end. Please note that you will need speakers or preferably earphones to listen to the audio.

Available free of charge to Australian public health laboratories that require the capability to test for SSBA, other potential agents and communicable disease threats and to approved private laboratories and international laboratories for a fee that reflects the cost of the modules’ production.

Catalogue Number

24040102

Schedule

Available all year

Product details last updated on September 10, 2020

SSBA eLearning Module – Toxins

SSBA eLearning available to all laboratories within Australia, to RCPA Microbiology Registrars free of charge and to Australian Government Department of Health approved international laboratories for a fee that reflects the cost of the modules’ production.

This module provides general and technical training for laboratory staff. eLearning Modules generally take 60mins to complete and there is a questionnaire at the end. Please note that you will need speakers or preferably earphones to listen to the audio.

Available free of charge to Australian public health laboratories that require the capability to test for SSBA, other potential agents and communicable disease threats and to approved private laboratories and international laboratories for a fee that reflects the cost of the modules’ production.

Catalogue Number

24050102

Schedule

Available all year

Product details last updated on September 10, 2020

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