BSL-3
BSL-3 facility for feed and food analysis at WFSR
Wageningen Food Safety Research is the (only) official control and emergency laboratory for the government for food and feed in the Netherlands. A large part of the work focuses on microbiology (specifically bacteriology and virology). To keep ensuring safe and reliable food, WFSR will be equipped with a BSL-3 facility. With this facility, WFSR has the capability to establish analyses for new food (or feed)-borne high-risk pathogens, including multi resistant micro-organisms and viruses in a safe environment.
The BSL-3 facility is still under construction, and the webpage is not yet available
Infrastructure and User Services
Wageningen Food Safety Research is the (only) official control and emergency laboratory for the government for food and feed in the Netherlands. A large part of the work focuses on microbiology (specifically bacteriology and virology). To keep ensuring safe and reliable food, WFSR will be equipped with a BSL-3 facility. With this facility, WFSR has the capability to establish analyses for new food (or feed)-borne high-risk pathogens, including multi resistant micro-organisms and viruses in a safe environment.
The following laboratories will be realised within the BSL-3 facility:
- BSL-3 Virology lab
- BSL-3 Bacteriology lab
- BSL-3 Fungi lab
- BSL-2 culture lab
The BSL-3 labs will be equipped with lab equipment required for the extraction of viruses and bacteria (i.e. lateral flow cabinet, centrifuge, thermomixer, freezer and refrigerator) and culture of viruses/bacteria (incubator, microscope, cell counter, centrifuge).
Examples/description of the type of research
- The BSL-3 facility at WFSR enables analyses and research on any (new) high risk food pathogens that may emerge as a result of climate change, migration of people and goods all over the world, new production processes, circular economy and changing consumer behaviour.
- The BSL-3 facility at WFSR enables to set up infectivity tests for foodborne viruses within the current statutory tasks, and work safely with high concentrated virus stocks. The ability to perform infectivity assays empowers WFSR to demonstrate infectivity of viruses, and to research the food and surface transmissibility of viruses.
- A BSL-3 facility provides the prerequisites to work safely with multi antibiotic resistant food pathogens for which treatments are no longer available. Multi-drug resistant micro-organisms are expected to become one of the biggest threats to global health, food security, and development today.
- A BSL-3 facility would be the best area for studying the relation of food and fungi (including antimicrobial resistant fungi).
- A BSL-3 facility enables monitoring and reporting current and future microbiological risks in food and feed; ensuring that WFSR will continue advising the ministries adequately with respect to policy, enforcement and inspection on food/feed safety.
How to access the infrastructure ?
Access to the BSL-3 lab is strictly regulated for safety. Only qualified personnel may enter to gain access to a Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory. Applicants must be experienced microbiologists with extensive independent practical experience in a microbiological lab. Additionally, a formal BSL-3 certification, authorized by the biosafety officer and lab supervisor, is required. This to demonstrate self-sufficiency and a thorough understanding of the risks and consequences associated with BSL-3 work. Only those who meet these criteria will be considered for access.