These include mechanical pipetting only (no mouth pipetting allowed), safe sharps handling, avoidance of splashes or aerosols, and decontamination of all work surfaces when work is complete, e.g., daily. Standard microbiology practices are usually enough to protect laboratory workers and other employees in the building. Training on the specific procedures is given to the lab personnel, who are supervised by a trained microbiologist or scientist. BSL 1 labs are not usually isolated from the general building. Research with these agents is generally performed on standard open laboratory benches without the use of special containment equipment. Level 1īiosafety level one, the lowest level, applies to work with agents that usually pose a minimal potential threat to laboratory workers and the environment and do not consistently cause disease in healthy adults. Using the most infectious agents also means extensive security measures are in place, not only because of their virulence but also because of their potential for use in bioterrorism. When vertebrates are involved, additional precautions and safety requirements are necessary. In many instances the work or research involves vertebrate animals, everything from mice to cattle. These agents include bacteria, fungi, parasites, prions, rickettsial agents and viruses, the latter being probably the largest and most important group. The four biosafety levels were developed to protect against a world of select agents. As an introduction, we summarize what the different biosafety levels encompass in terms of the typical biological agents used, safe work practices, specialized safety equipment (primary barriers) and facility design (secondary barriers).
The publication Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories is a principal reference and the resource for much of the information presented in this month’s column. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are our main sources for biological safety information for infectious agents. Each level up builds on the previous level, adding constraints and barriers.
Biological safety levels are ranked from one to four and are selected based on the agents or organisms on which the research or work is being conducted. The protections required by these types of activities are defined as biosafety levels. Protection for laboratory personnel, the environment and the local community must be considered and ensured. Whether performing research or production activities, when working with infectious materials, organisms or perhaps even laboratory animals, the proper degree of protection is of utmost importance. ISTOCK Biological Agents, Work Practices, Safety Equipment, and Facility Design Specific to EachĪ very specialized research laboratory that deals with infectious agents is the biosafety lab.
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