Neuropathology Laboratory Services for Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) requires a contractor to provide laboratory-based services for neuropathologic examination and brain tissue banking in support of the Public Health Agency of Canada's efforts related to Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) and similar brain diseases. The contractor is expected to supply qualified personnel, including a neuropathologist and laboratory assistants, along with facilities such as a compliant neuropathology laboratory and secure storage for a biological risk group 3 brain tissue specimen collection. The services should include diagnostic neuropathology for CJD on an as-needed basis, consultation with a neuropathologist when required, and coordination with CJDSS operations by laboratory staff.

The contractor is responsible for various tasks related to the Canadian Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Surveillance System (CJDSS). These tasks include coordinating laboratory work, managing information and material movement, and ensuring collaboration with key entities such as the Project Authority, CJDSS team, and National Microbiology Laboratory. Specific responsibilities involve conducting cranial autopsies, collecting and storing brain tissue specimens, performing postmortem examinations, and preparing diagnostic neuropathology reports. The contractor must maintain a bank of frozen brain tissues for research, address operational issues with freezers, and facilitate the shipment of specimens for testing and research purposes. Additionally, they are required to manage records, collaborate with qualified neuropathologists, and promptly respond to healthcare-related concerns as directed by the Project Authority.