The National Collection of Pathogenic Viruses (NCPV) - the Only Comprehensive Collection of Pathogenic Viruses in the World
21 November 2007
The National Collection of Pathogenic Viruses (NCPV) preserves well-characterised, authenticated human pathogenic viruses in a secure facility. The agents or nucleic acids derived from these viruses are supplied to the scientific community according to national and international guidelines. It remains as the largest and most comprehensive collection of pathogenic viruses in the world.
The Collection is primarily comprised of human pathogenic viruses requiring handling at biosafety levels 3 or 4, but has expanded to encompass hazard group 2 pathogens. Most of the material is in the form of cell-cultured virus stocks, but provision has also been made (where desirable or necessary) for selected clinical material and uncultivable viruses to be archived as serum, tissue or other biological samples, or in the form of cloned material.
The Collection contains materials which are not readily available to the wider scientific community, particularly in the area of emerging virus diseases. We expect the Collection to be of benefit in the future development and testing of vaccines and antiviral compounds, in the development and validation of diagnostic test systems, and in the conservation of biodiversity.
ADDITIONAL SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE NCPV
NCPV also stores and carries out viability testing on virus patent deposits on behalf of the European Collection of Cell Cultures (ECACC). Viruses can be stored with NCPV as safe deposits (not made available to other users of NCPV), providing a safe, secure backup to the customer's own storage facility.
The collection also provides information and backup to ECACC, and undertakes any virological investigations they may require. Finally, NCPV undertakes collaborative projects and contract research/developmental work with academic and commercial partners, by providing expertise in handling high containment pathogens.
More information regarding the NCPV can be found through the link below.
