“A single misdiagnosis of an SSBA could have enormous political, economic and medical implications”.

Prior to events in the United States in September 2001, bioterrorism was not a highly visible area of public health in Australia. Since then an emerging view of bioterrorism as a global threat has received increased recognition as has the need for associated biopreparedness in laboratory services .

In 2008 RCPA Quality Assurance Programs Pty Ltd received a grant from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing to establish a proficiency testing program for Security Sensitive Biological Agents (SSBAs).

For a number of years the BioSecurity QAP have been sending specialised surveys to a small number of laboratories within Australia that have facilities for handling and testing these SSBAs.

 

In 2012 the challenge is to also offer routine pathology laboratories around Australia similar opportunities for learning about SSBA's. These laboratories are often the first to detect an SSBA and have the ability to save many lives by quickly and confidently referring suspected SSBA's to PHLN Reference laboratories for confimation.

 

The BioSecurity QAP has developed an online or Virtual Module for both Bacillus anthracis, the cause of the disease Anthrax, and Yersinia pestis, the cause of the disease Plague.

 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
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Now available - Virtual Module for Yersinia pestis

 

After the successful Pilot of an online module for Bacillus anthracis in 2011 we are now pleased to inform you that we can offer all laboratories a Yersinia pestis Virtual Module in 2012.

This module is free of charge.

Please contact us if you would like more information about this module.


Acknowledgement DoHA

The RCPA Quality Assurance Programs wish to acknowledge the Australian Governments Department of Health and Ageing,  Emergency Laboratory Response Section, Health Emergency Management Branch for their generous support of the BioSecurity QAP.


Training & Competency Assessment

RCPA QAP has provided participants with external quality assurance for many years.  Over recent years RCPA QAP has had requests to consider offering training & competency assessment modules, as time and budgetary constraints have impacted on Laboratory Managers resources significantly.

RCPA QAP have been developing a Training & Competency Assessment project, which has support from the RCPA QAP Board, throughout this year.  Market research conducted earlier this year was very positive and suggested a real need for this type of product.  Discussions with AIMS and AACB have also been very encouraging and RCPA QAP have been given an undertaking to link these modules with APACE points.

As a result we are now at the stage we can offer a Pilot program, to participants, free of charge.  The pilot will include 3-4 modules to provide participants with a taste of future modules.  Feedback will be crucial to the success and planning of this project.

We are seeking Expressions of Interest for the modules, which will be delivered online.  If you or any member of your staff are interested in participating in the Training and Competency Assessment Pilot, please send an email to:

elearn@rcpaqap.com.au

At this stage, the Pilot will include the following:

  • One modules on QC/QA
  • One module on Haematology Blood film Morphology
  • One module on POC
  • One module on pre-analytical

When this project is developed & offered in future, the plan is to offer modules for basic scientists and senior scientists.  As well as offering modules for most disciplines.

To discuss this further, please call Penny Petinos on 02 9045 6003.


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