Biology
The Biology Division is concerned with protection against biological threats and hazards. This includes research, analysis and diagnostics of highly infectious pathogens and toxins as well as the respective biosecurity measures.
The Biology Division operates a certified testing laboratory for the detection of special biological agents. All analyses are carried out according to international standards and subject to internal and external quality controls.
Bacteriology
The Bacteriology Branch specialises in the rapid and reliable detection of human pathogenic bacteria of risk group 3 (Bacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis, Francisella tularensis, Brucella abortus, Brucella melitensis, Coxiella burnetii, Burkholderia mallei and Burkholderia pseudomallei, among others).
Virology
The Virology Branch specialises in the detection of human pathogenic viruses of risk groups 3 and 4 (EBOV, MARV, CCHF, RVFV, etc.).
Toxinology
The Toxinology Branch focuses on the detection of ricin and saxitoxin, both substances that relate to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). The scope of analyses also includes the potential biological warfare agents botulinum neurotoxin and staphylococcal enterotoxin B as well as other toxins from the food sector.
Biocontainment Laboratory
The biocontainment lab in Spiez is the only laboratory in Switzerland that enables the safe handling of human pathogens of the highest hazard categories.
National Reference Centre for Highly Pathogenic Bacteria (NABA)
Monitoring of highly pathogenic bacteria relevant to bioterrorism.
Support for the WHO as a WHO BioHub
Since 2021, Switzerland has made the Spiez Laboratory available to the WHO for tasks within the WHO BioHub system.