Source: Office of Medical Science
Written by: Laboratory Biosafety Office, SYSU
Edited by: Wang Dongmei

Biosafety Level-3 (BSL-3) Laboratory of Sun Yat-Sen University (SYSU) was warranted by the Department of Health of Guangdong Province to conduct research on H7N9 virus recently. The approved experiments included nucleic acid test, virus isolation, culture and identification, virus neutralization test, antigen and antibody detection. This provided key support in infrastructure and technology for the prevention and control of human infection with H7N9 in Guangdong Province, even in southern China.

Since the February of this year, cases of human infection with H7N9 virus in Shanghai, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Henan have been reported successively. In order to respond better to the possible forthcoming epidemics, the principles of “high attention, effective collaboration, early prevention” was set up in SYSU complied with the requirements from the National Health & Family Planning Commission. The research team was established under the guidance of the Department of Health of Guangdong Province. The research team have made risk assessment of research activities related to H7N9 virus and establish the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and hazard management principles of laboratory experiments involving H7N9 virus. The BSL-3 Laboratory of SYSU applied for the qualification to conduct research on human infection with H7N9 virus.

Closely collaborating with the Department of Health of Guangdong Province, SYSU will provide a platform to better prevent and control human infection with H7N9 virus and to gain better knowledge of the etiology of this disease.