| Description |
1 online resource (iv, 97 p.) : ill. |
| Note |
Title from cover screen (GAO, viewed Sept. 22, 2009). |
|
"September 2009." |
| Summary |
U.S. laboratories working with dangerous biological pathogens (commonly referred to as high containment laboratories) have proliferated in recent years. As a result, the public is concerned about the oversight of these laboratories. The deliberate or accidental release of biological pathogens can have disastrous consequences. GAO was asked to determine (1) to what extent, and in what areas, the number of high-containment laboratories has increased in the United States, (2) which federal agency is responsible for tracking this expansion and determining the associated aggregate risks, and (3) lessons learned from highly publicized incidents at these laboratories and actions taken by the regulatory agencies. To carry out its work, GAO surveyed and interviewed federal agency officials, (including relevant intelligence community officials), consulted with experts in microbiology, reviewed literature, conducted site visits, and analyzed incidents at high-containment laboratories. GAO is recommending that (1) the National Security Advisor name an entity charged with government wide strategic evaluation of high containment laboratories and (2) the Secretaries of Health and Human Services and Agriculture address specific oversight issues regarding high-containment laboratories. |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references. |
| Note |
"GAO-09-574." |
| Subject |
Microbiological laboratories -- United States.
|
|
Medical laboratories -- United States.
|
|
Laboratories -- United States -- Safety measures.
|
|
Pathogenic microorganisms.
|
| Added Author |
Kingsbury, Nancy R.
|
| Added Title |
High containment laboratories : national strategy for oversight is needed |
|
National strategy for oversight is needed |
| Gpo Item No. |
0546-D (online) |
| Sudoc No. |
GA 1.13:GAO-09-574 |
|
