Office of Laboratory Security

What's New

Biosafety Advisory for H1N1 Flu Virus - June 15, 2009

The Office of Laboratory Security is providing the following revised biosafety advisory to laboratories handling samples associated with novel H1N1 flu virus.

Novel H1N1 Flu Virus: Interim Guidelines

If you have any questions about this advisory, please contact the Office of Laboratory Security at (613) 957-1779 or biosafety_biosecurite@phac-aspc.gc.ca.

Should you require training or information on Transport of Biological substance, Category B send your questions to lsd-dsl@phac-aspc.gc.ca. For after hours inquiries contact Joanne Lahey (Chief, Laboratory Safety Division) at the 24/7 cell 613-292-6794.

Leadership in public health safety and security

Today's fluid public health security environment presents considerable biosafety and biosecurity challenges for the Public Health Agency of Canada.

A significant number of these challenges - including enforcement of human pathogens importation regulations and biocontainment laboratory inspection and certification - are managed by the Agency's Office of Laboratory Security (OLS).

As the national authority on biosafety and biocontainment, the OLS works as both biosafety regulator and service provider, exercising leadership in regulation, surveillance, applied research and evidence-based interventions, while providing biosafety stakeholders with information, advice and practical training to ensure safer biosafety practices and more secure laboratory environments.

The OLS's unique dual-role as regulator and service provider enables it to make a significant contribution to the Agency's ongoing efforts to anticipate and respond to public health challenges and protect the public health safety and security of Canadians.