Global Health and Biosecurity

ATCC strengthens partner biosafety and biosecurity through proven quality standards, world-class biorepository practices, and full regulatory compliance. We combine technical training, validated materials, and operational consulting to build sustainable laboratory capacity, improve risk management, and enable rapid response during health emergencies.

• Standards and compliance: implement CLSI-quality workflows, documentation, and accreditation support
• Biorepository best practices: specimen accessioning, cold-chain, sample tracking, and long-term stewardship
• Training and workforce development: hands-on biosafety, biosecurity, and quality-management courses for laboratorians and leadership
• Infrastructure planning: biosafety risk assessments, SOP development, and facility commissioning support
• Assay validation and proficiency testing: supply reference materials, panels, and testing protocols to confirm competency
• Rapid surge support: validated reagents, secure sample handling, and technical assistance for emergency scale-up
• Partnership models: long-term collaborations, technology transfer, and localized supply chains to ensure resilience and continuity planning

We prioritize traceability, interoperability, and durable capacity so partners can safely detect, share, and respond to biological risks.

Agroterrorism & Biological Threat Reduction Workshop in Indonesia

ATCC played a pivotal role in supporting the development of a framework for a National Agricultural Collection in Indonesia, in partnership with the Indonesian Research Center for Veterinary Sciences (IVETRI), CDC, FBI, and Georgetown University. During the workshop, which aimed to guide the implementation and management of a large-scale biorepository, ATCC delivered five targeted presentations, led six working groups, and collaborated on the creation of actionable next steps. These contributions helped initiate the development of essential guidelines and documentation to support Indonesia’s agricultural biospecimen infrastructure.

Considered the “gold standard” for biological materials, ATCC delivers over 26 different authenticated product types that catalyze infectious disease research, diagnostics, vaccines and therapeutics.

• Extensive collection of microbial pathogens and industry-cited standards (CLSI, FDA, USP)
• Bacterial, viral, and protist reference strains and inactivated pathogen controls
• Human and mammalian cell lines and disease models
• Synthetic nucleic acid standards, purified pathogen proteins, and recombinant/chimeric proteins
• Antibody services: production, validation, sequencing, and neutralization testing
• CRISPR gene-editing support and expression vectors
• In vitro assay capabilities including MIC antimicrobial screening
• Whole-genome and NGS analysis for strain ID, SNP/mutation detection, transcriptomics, and population bioinformatics 

Performance Highlights

The Biological and Emerging Infections Research Resources Program (BEI Resources) was established by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to provide reagents, tools, and information for studying Category A, B, and C priority pathogens, emerging infectious disease agents, non-pathogenic microbes and other microbiological materials of relevance to the research community. ATCC supports the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) BEI-RRP contract by providing a central repository for unique and quality-assured research materials for infectious diseases.

Our work over the last 20+ years through the BEI Resources and International Reagent Resource (IRR) programs has enabled the delivery of over 190,000 vials of SARS-CoV-2 materials to more than 3,500 researchers in 77 countries, and the production of 27,000+ products annually for 900+ public health labs worldwide. These efforts are backed by ISO-accredited quality systems, Select Agent licensure, and a global distribution infrastructure that ensures rapid access to critical materials—even in hard-to-reach regions.

ATCC partners with subject matter experts to translate surveillance and diagnostic requirements into validated kits, reagents, and SOPs, backed by more than a decade of experience in development, testing, and distribution for public‑health programs. We deliver secure, traceable materials and end‑to‑end support to accelerate assay deployment and sustain surveillance.

• IVD real-time RT-PCR kits for clinical diagnostic use
• RUO real-time RT-PCR kits for research and assay development
• Multi-segment reverse transcription (MRT) PCR kits for complex viral genomes
• Viral and bacterial reagent panels and reference stains for calibration and proficiency testing
• Synthetic and inactivated controls, purified proteins, and sequencing-validated standards
• SOP customization, analytical testing, and batch release support to meet government quality and acceptance criteria

Performance Highlights

UNICEF has established Long-term Assistance funding vehicle with ATCC for procurement of Yellow Fever diagnostic kits.

ATCC manufactures and supplies Yellow Fever MAC-HD ELISA kits (YF-500) used for surveillance and diagnostics, including all components like antigens, controls, and assay plates. Performs quality control (QC), lyophilization, and packaging of kit components to ensure consistency and compliance with international standards. Collaborates with UNICEF and CDC to address issues such as assay performance, packaging failures, and component stability, including issuing Field Safety Notices (FSNs) when needed. Supports global logistics and distribution, including cold chain management and compliance with international shipping regulations. Engages in continuous improvement and validation of manufacturing processes, including risk analysis, equipment qualification, and stability testing. Provides customer care and order processing tailored to UNICEF’s needs, including documentation, shipment coordination, and technical support. Participates in audits and site visits to ensure transparency, quality assurance, and alignment with UNICEF’s operational and technical expectations.

ATCC is Critical Response Ready >24 years of public health emergency response efforts has shaped our capabilities and facilities to better respond to emerging zoonotic diseases. ATCC delivers rapid, end-to-end public health emergency support grounded in a more than a century of bioscience stewardship. We mobilize secure high‑containment laboratories, validated reagents, and experienced technical teams to support federal, state, and international partners during outbreaks and biosecurity incidents.

• Secure laboratory surge capacity with BSL‑3 facilities, controlled access, and compliant sample workflows
• Validated reagents and reference materials for diagnostics, assay calibration, and quality control
• Custom reagent development including inactivated pathogens, synthetic controls, and assay panels
• Analytical and sequencing services for strain ID, mutation surveillance, and genomic epidemiology
• Logistics and global sample handling with cold‑chain management, chain‑of‑custody, and international shipping expertise
• Regulatory and technical guidance to align SOPs, validation studies, and agency acceptance criteria
• Training, exercises, and after‑action support to strengthen laboratory readiness and sustainment

We pair scientific rigor with operational reliability to accelerate detection, countermeasure development, and coordinated response efforts that protect public health.

Performance Highlights

CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) provides registered users with reagents, test kits, and information for studying and detecting influenza virus and other pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2.

Public health laboratories worldwide utilize these reagents to monitor pathogen strains, including Influenza (H1N1 and H5N1), as well as newly emerging infectious agents. IRR supports over 900 registered labs across 190 countries and distributes over 1,600 different types of reagents for detecting influenza, non-flu respiratory viruses, Monkeypox, Measles, Rubella, Polio, Rotavirus, Diphtheria, Neisseria, other foodborne and waterborne isolates, and emergency response materials. The reagents include RT-PCR detection kits and support materials, WHO surveillance kits, proficiency panels, controls, live and inactivated viruses, bacteria, antisera, antibodies, proteins, nucleic acids, and cell lines. The IRR is primarily a resource used to procure pathogen test components and assemble, qualify, and distribute these kits to public health laboratories. This resource supports the detection and characterization of pathogens, which will aid in informing interventions. By centralizing these functions, All items are maintained under an ISO-accredited Quality System and include backup systems and disaster recovery plans. ATCC provides and maintains a distinct IRR website that allows registrants to order items and obtain product information.