The National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC)’s National Repository for Bacteria

and Viruses has been in operation since 1971 for the purpose of safely storing Especially Dangerous

Pathogens, conventionally pathogenic, and conditionally pathogenic microorganisms, including typical

and non-typical strains isolated in Georgia with scientific and practical value and reference strains.

The main functions of the repository are to ensure viability and secure storage of microorganisms; to

study their biochemical and serological characteristics; and to provide different NCDC laboratories with

microorganisms for scientific research. Other functions of the repository are inspection of the quality of

growth media and determination of the bactericidal effect of disinfectants.

All work conducted at the repository is in compliance with regulations established by NCDC’s Biosafety

Committee and are incorporated in the biosafety manual and/or in appropriate Standard Operating

Procedures (SOPs). Transfer of cultures to the external laboratories which are licensed for work with

particular pathogens is made based on official requests and only with the permission of the NCDC

Director. The culture preparation and transfer procedures are in compliance with International Air

Transportation Agency (IATA) regulations.