#SubOversight Examines Inactivation of Dangerous Pathogens

Press Release

The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, chaired by Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA), today held a hearing on bioresearch labs and the inactivation of dangerous pathogens. Taking center stage at the hearing was a new report by the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO), which found that changes must be made regarding the government's high-containment labs that handle our deadliest pathogens. The report was requested by committee leaders. Among the GAO's findings is that the Select Agent Program does not have "a consistent, written set of criteria for handling incidents." Lab safety is of critical concern for the subcommittee, which has actively investigated the recent lapses.

Dr. Timothy M. Persons, Chief Scientist, GAO, shared some of the reports critical findings, citing: limited information and federal guidance on developing inactivation guidelines, inconsistent safeguards, and varied requirements for shipping materials that have gone through the inactivation process. "Experts in our meeting stated that such challenges may affect laboratories' ability to mitigate the risk of incomplete inactivation," stated Dr. Persons.

"Failed inactivation has been long overlooked by regulators and the research community. GAO brings us several important findings," stated Chairman Murphy. "First, the GAO found that the Federal Select Agent Program, operated by both the Departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture, does not require laboratories to identify incidents involving failed inactivation in its reporting resulting in inconsistent and incomplete reports. From 2003 until 2015, the Select Agent Program reported 10 incidents, but GAO documented an additional 11 situations in which select agents were not effectively inactivated."

"Without major overhaul of how deadly agents, like anthrax, are handled and how research is conducted, the risk of repeating this mistake remains viable," added Chairman Murphy.

"Lives are on the line, and there is zero margin for error. We can and must do a better job," stated full committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI).

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