§ Mr. Menzies CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what pathogens were sold and at what price to the American Type Culture Collection in Rockville, Maryland, by his Department's installations between(a) 1 January 1980 and 31 December 1984 and (b) 1 January 1990 and 31 December 1997. [44184]
§ Ms JowellThe Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research (CAMR) has not sold or supplied any pathogens to the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) between 1 January 1980 and 31 December 1984, and 1 January 1990 and 31 December 1997.
The National Collection of Type Cultures (NCTC), Public Health Laboratory Service (PHLS) does not have complete records for the whole period 1 January 1980 to 31 December 1984. From the records it does have relating to this period and to the period between 1 January 1990 and 31 December 1997, the NCTC has not sold or supplied to the ATCC pathogens categorised as Hazard Group 3 (pathogens such as Bacillus anthracis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis belong to this group). A wide range of biological agents which are less hazardous are categorised as Hazard Group 2 and, although information on which strains have been supplied to the ATCC can be provided, this will take considerable time to compile. I will write to the hon and learned Member with details as soon as possible.
The National Collection of Pathogenic Fungi, PHLS, has supplied as follows:
Date Strain number Species 1984 NCPF 2109 Aspergillus fumigatus 1984 NCPF 2140 Aspergillus fumigatus 1993 NCPF 2808 Ramichloridium mackenziei These cultures of fungi were supplied in response to requests by the ATCC for strains to be added to their catalogue and as such were not charged for.