Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosive (CBRE) science services offered by ESR

New Zealand needs to rapidly identify biological and chemical risk agents. These agents may originate from biosecurity incursions, major infectious disease outbreaks, accidental contamination events or terrorist threats.

ESR scientists are able to offer expertise and experience in the following areas:

• A knowledge of CBRE agents
• A knowledge of the assays and equipment needed to detect, identify and characterise agents
• Ability to perform rapid and evidential identification of microbial pathogens, provide typing and sub-typing information, and instigate surveillance
• Ability to perform rapid and evidential identification of hazardous chemicals
• Ability to perform analysis of hazardous chemical and biological agents from environmental samples
• Standard operating procedures for analysis of a scene involving CBRE agent including chain of custody for the evidence obtained
• Obtain forensic evidence from material contaminated with a hazardous agent to help link a suspect with a crime
• Staff training including personal protective equipment