Biosafety and biosecurity for pathogens and toxins news: Q4, January 2021 issue

On this page

• Safeguarding your research
• New Canadian biosafety guideline: Biosafety in classrooms
• Reporting recommendations: Primary specimens exposures
• RegFacts – #DYK  

Safeguarding your research

In September 2020, the Government of Canada released a statement about research security and COVID-19. The illicit and unauthorized acquisition of your research and innovations can result in the loss of your research and can negatively affect your:

• publication opportunities
• ability to publish results
• ability to realize economic, professional, or financial gains

The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service have issued warnings. The government asks Canadian research organizations involved in COVID-19 research to be vigilant and alert to potential threats directed to their people and their work. By safeguarding critical pandemic-related research and innovation, you protect:

• national security
• the integrity of Canada’s research ecosystem
• long-term economic competitiveness and prosperity

It is important to be aware of potential risks and to take extra precautions to protect the security of research, intellectual property, and knowledge development. With that in mind, the Government of Canada and researchers worked together to develop the Safeguarding Your Research portal. The portal identifies and shares best practices to:

• minimize cyber security risks
• protect intellectual property
• make sure that Canadians benefit from significant investments in science and research

The portal will continue to expand as guidance evolves.

Training on insider and outsider threats is available through the Public Health Agency of Canada’s (PHAC) Laboratory Biosafety and Biosecurity training portal.
For more information, we encourage you to explore other resources including:

• Safeguarding Science
• Building Security Awareness in the Academic Community

New Canadian biosafety guideline: Biosafety in the classroom

PHAC and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency have published the new Canadian Biosafety Guideline on Biosafety in the Elementary, Intermediate, and Secondary School Classroom.

This guideline describes general recommendations and considerations of basic laboratory design that can be implemented in classrooms. It also outlines biosafety and biosecurity basics for a younger audience, to raise awareness of the risks of working with biological materials. It provides detailed descriptions of:

• practices for the safe handling of biological material
• teachers’ and students’ responsibilities in the classroom to prevent exposure to and release of biological material
• considerations for science fair projects
• practical mitigation measures that can be implemented in classroom laboratories

The guideline is intended to be used in conjunction with the Canadian Biosafety Standard.

Reporting recommendations: Primary specimens exposures

Primary specimens are pathogens existing in their natural environment. They are commonly collected and analyzed for clinical, diagnostic, and research purposes. They can be collected from the environment, such as water and soil, or directly from humans or animals, such as:

• blood
• serum
• tissue
• urine
• feces
• saliva
• milk

Of the 37 exposure incidents reported to the Laboratory Incident Notification Canada (LINC) between January and September 2020, 3 involved primary specimens. Two of these incidents involved the SARS-Cov-2 and Brucella suis pathogens, and occurred when blood collected from infected patients was spilled during diagnostic activities in serology laboratories. The pathogens were considered as being in their natural environment, since they had not been extracted or cultured during diagnostic activities. The third incident involved a bite by an unintentionally infected non-human primate. None of the reported incidents resulted in a laboratory acquired infection. The 3 exposure reports were processed by LINC and followed-up by the inspection team to:

• review the circumstances surrounding the exposure
• provide advice
• assess whether post exposure procedures were properly followed

Reporting exposure incidents in a laboratory setting involving human pathogens and toxins in their natural environment is not mandatory under the Human Pathogens and Toxins Act (HPTA). However, following the 3 recent incident reports, parties regulated under the HPTA are encouraged to report such incidents for the purposes of:

• accurate data collection
• mitigation of risk of contracting a laboratory acquired infection

In addition, guidance can be provided to improve existing preventative measures. This is especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic where multiple diagnostic tests involving primary samples are performed.

Reporting such exposures enables the collection of national data which can be used to:

• detect real-time trends
• detect potential patterns of concern
• facilitate early response to prevent or mitigate biosafety risks

The reporting guideline will be updated to reflect the recommendation of reporting all primary specimen exposure incidents. Ultimately, this allows PHAC to:

• assist stakeholders in identifying risk factors
• address emerging risks to public health and safety
• inform evidence-based decision-making regarding biosafety and biosecurity in Canada

RegFacts – #DYK

Did you know that an outstanding criminal charge may affect your application for a HPTA Security Clearance? Section 15 of the Human Pathogens and Toxins Regulations (HPTR) allows the Minister to postpone processing your application until your criminal charge is disposed of by the courts. In the event of a postponement, you will be notified.

However, if you hold a security clearance and are found guilty of a criminal offence, you must notify the Minister in writing immediately. This may result in your security clearance being suspended or revoked.