Quick diagnosis results in a smaller number of infected animals and a smaller number of infected properties to deal with, which in turn means smaller quarantine zones, increased opportunities for maintaining disease-free zones, quicker disease eradication, and decreased outbreak costs overall. Currently, some exotic disease testing is done at MAF's low-security PC2 laboratory at Wallaceville. The new laboratory will improve the security of this type of work. These biosecurity features are consistent with international standards for laboratories dealing with exotic animal diseases. Hugh Davies says nothing is allowed out of the lab.
Security is paramount.
Access to the lab will be restricted and entry and exit will be through airlocks. The airlocks, corridors and laboratories are held at negative pressure with the most secure areas at the lowest pressure. Staff must strip off all their street clothing before entering the lab through an airlock. The primary biosecurity and safety barriers in the new laboratory are class II biohazard cabinets, which minimises the chances of organisms escaping into the laboratory area. Secondary barriers surround these cabinets.