As part of our commitment to minimize the risk of poliovirus release from our research and diagnostic laboratories, UW-Madison must report the acquisition or discovery of any poliovirus potentially infectious materials to the U.S. National Authority for Containment of Poliovirus (NAC) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Poliovirus potentially infectious materials (PIM) are any materials that may contain poliovirus without you being aware of it because they were collected at a time and place where poliovirus was in circulation or oral polio vaccine was in use. Examples include certain clinical specimens such as respiratory secretions and fecal samples, respiratory or enteric viral isolates, and environmental water samples.
All UW-Madison principal investigators must report any changes in their laboratory’s PIM inventory to the Office of Biological Safety. This includes the identification or acquisition of new PIM and the disposition or disposal of existing PIM that was previously reported to the Office of Biological Safety or the NAC.
For more information and Frequently Asked Questions, check out our poliovirus containment webpage.
by Andrea Ladd
Andrea Ladd is the Director of Biological Safety – Biological Safety Officer. She joined EH&S in 2016 and oversees the Office of Biological Safety, including IBC and Laboratory Operations, Animal Research Safety, Select Agent/DURC Program, and Biocontainment Program.
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