Laboratories

When the Division of Biologics Standards (DBS) was established in 1955, this centralized the biologics regulatory function at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) into one division rather than spread across multiple laboratories and institutes. However, for the first five years the staff was still spread amongst multiple buildings on the NIH campus. In 1960, Building 29 was completed and the staff was consolidated into one space. During the early 1960s the laboratories and the sections within them were still being finalized and organized based on the growing needs and demands of vaccine production and other biologics regulations. By 1968, the DBS had the below seven laboratories.

When the DBS was administratively transferred to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1972, many of these labs remained the same, but under the title of Division instead of Laboratory. During the 1980s there was significant reorganization, and many divisions were combined, abandoned, or changed names entirely. 

Laboratory of Control Activities

• 4th floor (from 1960 to 1967) (Rooms 400, 405, 416, 401, 402, 403); right side of 4th floor (if looking at the front elevation of Building 29)  

Laboratory of Bacterial Products

• 4th Floor (Rooms 420, 429, 431, 429A, 432, 418, 406, 416); left side of 4th floor (if looking at the front elevation of Building 29) 

Laboratory of Biophysics and Biochemistry

• Rooms 305 and 306; right side of 3rd floor (if looking at the front elevation of Building 29)

Laboratory of Blood and Blood Products

• 1st floor (from 1960 to 1967) (Rooms 112, 107, 114, 111, 104, 100, 404, 400) and then the 2nd and 3rd floors (after 1967) (Rooms 318, 324, 326, 311, 225, 330, 219, 306); right side of 1st floor, then left side of 2nd and third floors (if looking at the front elevation of Building 29) 

Laboratory of Pathology

• Rooms 512 and 516; middle left side of 5th floor (if looking at the front elevation of Building 29) 

Laboratory of Viral Immunology

• 2nd floor (from 1960 to 1967) (Rooms 212A, 229, 200, 208, 209, 230, 221, 311); most of 2nd floor (if looking at the front elevation of Building 29) 

Laboratory of Virology and Rickettsiology

• 2nd and 3rd floors (from 1960 to 1967) (Rooms 318, 308, 332, 207, 216, 316, 330, 222, 214, 207); most of 3rd floor (if looking at the front elevation of Building 29)