The biocontainment lab in Spiez enables the handling of human pathogens of the hazard categories 3 and 4 and provides services in four core areas:

Diagnostics

Primary diagnostics for highly contagious and difficult-to-treat pathogens belonging to hazard categories 3 and 4. This includes extensive differential diagnostics. In addition, the lab can provide national reference functions for certain pathogens.

Analysis of unknown (environmental) samples

Triage for analysis of unknown samples: This is done within the framework of operational tasks relating to incident management. Among other skills, this involves the ability to analyse suspect samples of an unknown nature. Experience has shown that this task requires a combination of specific skills in the fields of N, B and C protection. At Spiez Laboratory, this requirement is met in a unique way.

Training

Experts can be trained for hazard category 4 in a lab unit that has been especially devised for this purpose.

Research and Development

The security laboratory is available for academic research and development projects – on the one hand in the area of diagnostic requirements (e.g., development of new test methods for both known and unknown pathogens), and on the other hand in the areas of prevention and treatment (e.g., research projects for the development of new vaccines).