All NIH Research Staff should be advised that the NIH will commence the
laboratory Quality Assurance (QA) step of the Clean Sweep effort beginning on
Tuesday, October 7, 2014. This is the second phase of the Clean Sweep project
as a result of the Variola discovery back in July.During this phase, the Office of Research Services,
Division of Occupational Health and Safety (DOHS) will be confirming the
accuracy of the laboratory inventories submitted during phase I as well as
inspecting all storage locations for biological materials handled at BSL-2 and
above.This process may take several months to complete so we
ask for your patience as we perform this mandatory assessment. Each building
will receive advanced notification as to when the inspections will occur.The inspection process will consist of two steps:1) Confirming the accuracy of any inventory that has been
submitted to the Central Inventory Database.2) Conducting a complete check of all storage locations.
These inspections will be performed by members of DOHS
and support staff. When the QA staff enter your laboratory, they will ask for
your assistance with conducting the inspections. At no time should the QA staff
handle any of the research material.
For questions about the Clean Sweep effort please contact
DOHS at 301-496-2346.
Division of Occupational Health and Safety.
Office of Research Services.National Institutes of Health.
