Investigation launched into 300 missing virus samples from Queensland government-run lab

An independent investigation, headed by a retired Supreme Court judge, has been launched into the disappearance of samples of Hendra virus, Lyssavirus and Hantavirus from a freezer at a Brisbane laboratory.

More than 300 virus samples are unaccounted for at a Brisbane laboratory. Picture: Getty Images

More than 300 infectious virus samples have gone missing from a Queensland government-run laboratory in a major breach of biosecurity controls.

An independent investigation, headed by a retired Supreme Court judge, has been launched into the disappearance of samples of Hendra virus, Lyssavirus and Hantavirus from a freezer at a Brisbane laboratory.

The samples probably went missing in 2021 but the breach was not discovered until August 2023 with Chief Health Officer Dr John Gerrard insistent that there was no evidence of risk to the community.

“It’s important to note that virus samples would degrade very rapidly outside a low-temperature freezer and become non-infectious,” he said.

Health Minister Tim Nicholls ordered a probe after the lab was unable to determine if the materials were removed from secure storage or destroyed, but said there was “no suggestion” the virus samples had been stolen from the lab, at Coopers Plains in Brisbane’s south.

The samples, including 98 of live Hendra virus, two of live Hantavirus and 223 of Lyssavirus genetic fragments, were removed from a locked freezer in 2021 when it broke down, Mr Nicholls said.

“And it’s this part of the transfer of those materials that is causing concern, because they were transferred to a functioning freezer without the appropriate paperwork being completed, so there is a gap in the record keeping,” he said.

“The very early information we have is it was just a handwritten list, and that’s unacceptable.”

Dr Gerard said it was most likely that the samples were destroyed by autoclaving – where high temperature, pressurised steam is used to kills bacteria and viruses. “Less likely is the possibility that samples were placed in another freezer,” he said.

“A search of over 60 freezers in the facility has not identified these samples, and that search process is being repeated.

“It is very unlikely that the samples were discarded in general waste, as this would be completely outside normal laboratory ­practices.”

The lab was previously part of Forensic and Scientific Services, responsible for the state’s DNA lab disaster, but is now run by Pathology Queensland.

It provides statewide specialist diagnostic services, surveillance and research into viruses and mosquito and tick-borne pathogens of medical importance.

The investigation will be led by retired Supreme Court judge Martin Daubney and Julian Druce, the former head of the Virus Identification Lab at the Victorian Infectious Disease Reference Laboratory.

The pair will consider the “management, administration, or delivery of public sector health services in the laboratory” and why the breach took so long to be made public, with findings to be handed Mr Nicholls June 30.

“Thankfully, the risk to Queenslanders is very, very small, as Dr Gerald has said, but that doesn’t negate the fact that these are very, very sensitive materials,” Mr Nicholls said.

“These are potentially very, very, very, I guess, harmful materials, and how this was allowed to happen, why it was kept under the radar for such a long period of time … these are all matters that I think the investigation will be able to provide us with information on.”

Mr Nicholls said the breach in biosecurity protocols was a “serious” one.

“The department has advised me it has taken all necessary steps since being made aware of the breaches, including notifying regulators,” he said.

The investigation is the next step in this process.

“The Part 9 Investigation will ensure nothing has been overlooked in responding to this incident and examine the current policies and procedures in operation today at the laboratory.

“This investigation will also consider regulatory compliance and staff conduct.”