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 Institutional Biosafety Committee 

 


CDC/NIH Biological Safety Levels and Requirements
 

BioSafety Level Description of Agents Practices Safety Equipment Facility Requirements
1 Not known to cause disease in healthy adults

Standard Microbiological Practices

None required

Work on Open bench top. Sink required for hand washing.

 2

Causes disease in healthy adults. Transmitted by percutaneous injury, ingestion, or mucous membrane exposure. This includes human blood, body fluids, unfixed human tissue, or uncharacterized human cells.

BSL-1 Practices plus: Limited access, Biohazard warning signs, "Sharps" precautions, Biosafety SOP

Biological Safety Cabinets (BSC’s) or other physical containment devices for all procedures with agents that could cause splashes or aerosols of infectious materials. PPE includes laboratory coats, gloves, face protection as needed

BSL-1 Requirements plus: Autoclave available if needed

 3

Causes serious disease in healthy adults.

Transmitted by aerosols.

BSL-2 Practices plus: Controlled access to lab; Decontamination of all waste. Decontamination of lab clothing before laundering. Baseline serum as required

BCSs or other physical containment devices used for all open manipulations of agents. PPE includes protective lab clothing, gloves, respiratory protection as needed

BSL-2 Requirements plus: Physical separation from access corridors. Self-closing, double-door access. Exhausted air not recirculated. Negative airflow into laboratory

 4

Dangerous/exotic agents which pose high risk of life-threatening disease.

Threat to lab personnel by aerosol transmission or unknown transmission risk

BSL-3 Practices plus: Clothing change before entering; shower before exiting. All material leaving lab must be decontaminated.

All procedures conducted in BSCs with full-body, air-supplied, positive pressure suit

BSL-3 Requirements plus: Separate building or isolated zone. Dedicated air supply, exhaust, vacuum, and waste decontamination systems

 

 

 © 2007 MCG Email Questions and Comments to Dr. S. Kraemer 
 January 05, 2007

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