Which of the following is a duty of the Select Agent Program?

• A. Inspect entities that possess, use, or transfer select agents
• B. Issue outbreaks press releases
• C. Approve clinical trials
• D. Grant funding to hospitals

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is that the Select Agent Program oversees security and compliance for regulated agents, which includes verifying that facilities handling these agents are properly protected and managed. Inspecting entities that possess, use, or transfer select agents is a central duty because inspections ensure physical security, personnel reliability, inventory controls, incident reporting, and transfer procedures are in place and effectively followed. This helps prevent loss, theft, or misuse of dangerous agents.

The other activities don’t fall under the program’s responsibilities: issuing outbreak press releases is part of public health communications during events, not a regulatory inspection function; approving clinical trials is handled by clinical regulators and ethics reviews; and granting funding to hospitals is a separate funding role, not a regulatory inspection duty.