Incident Response Plan: Appendix I. Sample Incident Response Immediate Responses

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Incident Type Immediate Responsibilities
Theft or Loss of Select Agents and Toxins
  1. Notify local authorities.
  2. Notify FSAP.
  3. Notify the Federal Bureau of Investigations – Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate.
Laboratory Acquired Infection (LAI) involving select agents and toxins
  1. Contain select agents and toxins.
  2. Ensure appropriate medical care is provided to the affected individual(s) and begin medical surveillance.
  3. Notify local public health officials
  4. Notify FSAP
Bites/scratches from select agent infected animals or Contact with body fluids from select agent infected animals
  1. Ensure appropriate medical care is provided to the affected individual(s) and provide medical surveillance
  2. Contain the select agents and toxins.
  3. Notify FSAP.
Needle sticks/sharps injury involving select agents and toxins
  1. Ensure appropriate medical care is provided to the affected individual(s) and provide medical surveillance
  2. Contain the select agents and toxins.
  3. Notify FSAP.
Release of select agents and toxins outside of secondary containment
  1. Contain the select agents and toxins
  2. Evacuate the area
  3. Decontaminate the area appropriately
  4. Perform occupational exposure assessments and ensure appropriate medical care is provided to affected individuals.
  5. Notify FSAP.
Occupational exposure to select agents for individuals where medical surveillance has not been provided, including any immunocompromised or pregnant/ lactating women. (open bench work in clinical diagnostic laboratories)
  1. Ensure appropriate medical care is provided to the affected individual(s) and provide medical surveillance
  2. Contain the select agents and toxins.
  3. Notify FSAP.
Failure of validated select agent inactivation procedure – where the material was removed from appropriate registered containment level
  1. Move material into registered containment space
  2. Assess for potential occupational exposures
  3. Notify FSAP.

 Discovery: the finding of a select agent or toxin by an individual or entity that was not aware of its existence. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1)  A registered individual or entity finds a select agent or toxin not accounted for in its inventory; or

(2)  A non-registered individual or entity finds a select agent or toxin.
  1. Move material into registered containment laboratory. If not registered, transfer or destroy select agents and toxins.
  2. Notify FSAP. Note: Non-registered entities should contact FSAP first before transferring material.
Page last reviewed: August 27, 2021
Content source: Division of Regulatory Science and Compliance