Biosafety &Containment Levels

Safety

of the most importance in any laboratory setting, especially when

working with autoclaving equipment

(CDC)Biosafety levels or BSL:

are a series of protections specific to autoclave-

related activities that take place in biological labs.

Biosafety levels

are individual

defenses designed to protect laboratory personnel, as well as the

surrounding environment and community

These levels, are ranked from one to four

BSL-1

Bsl-2 BS l-3 bsl-4

BSL-1considered

lowest biosafety level

as a BSL-4 lab

the highest and most stringent biosafetylevel

Example bsl-1

.

- ex., a basic lab setting that specializes in the research of non-lethal

agents that pose minimal threat to lab workers and the environment would

generally be considered BSL-1,

BSL-4 lab

research laboratory that specializes in handling

potentially deadly infectious agents, such as the Ebola virus, would be

designated as a BSL-4 lab — the highest and most stringent biosafety

level.

Biological Risk Assessment: is foundation

: is foundation of safe laboratory operations

Determination of BSL is one of the steps in

steps in Biological Risk Assessment

The Biological Risk Assessment requires careful judgment, it is an important

responsibility for:

principal Investigators (PI) of biomedical laboratories.

• Institutional leadership

• Institutional Biosafety Committees (IBCs)

• animal care and use committees,

• biological safety professionals

• laboratory animal veterinarians

The Biological Risk Assessment is carried out by

6 steps cycle:

First step of biological risk assessment

First: identify hazardous characteristics of the agent and preform assessment of inherent risk

Second step in the biological risk assessment?

Second: identify laboratory procedure hazardus

Agenet concentration، suspension volume, equipment und procedure that generate

aerosols or (droplets)use of sharps

ThirdThe Biological Risk Assessment

Third: make a determination of the appropriate Biosafety Level and

select additional precautions indicated by the risk assessment.

This require a comprehensive understanding of the practices, safety

equipment, and facility safeguards

.FourthThe Biological Risk Assessment

Fourth: before application of the controls, review the risk assessment and

selected safeguards with a biosafety professional, subject matter expert, and

the IBC

FifthBiological Risk Assessment

Fifth: evaluate the proficiencies (skills) of staff regarding safe practices and

the integrity of safety equipment

Important note

The protection of laboratory workers, other persons associated with

the laboratory, and the public will depend ultimately on the laboratory

workers themselves

SixthBiological Risk Assessment

Sixth: revisit regularly and verify risk management strategies and determine if

changes are necessary.

Continue the risk management cycle, and adjust and adapt as the need

arises.

Containment

Is the term used to describe methods, practices,

procedures, facilities, and other safety equipment, such as personal

protective equipment (PPE), for managing the risks associated with

handling and storing hazardous biological agents and toxins in a

laboratory environment.

.Containment levels are

Proportional )

.Containment levels are Proportional to the size of the expected risks

(biosafety levels)

.Biosafety Level 1 (BSL-1)

In this level the standard practices, safety equipment, and facility

specifications are generally appropriate for

appropriate for:

- undergraduate and secondary educational training and teaching

laboratories

- other laboratories that work with defined and characterized strains of

viable biological agents not known to consistently cause disease in

healthy adult humans.

Example of biosaftylevel-1

Ex: Bacillus subtilis, Naegleria gruberi, infectious canine hepatitis virus

Containment level 1:

:

A basic level of containment that depends on standard microbiological

best practices and procedures with no special primary or

secondary barriers, other than a door, a sink for hand washing, and non-

porous work surfaces that are cleanable and easy to decontaminate. Do not

need to be isolated from surrounding.

Standard Microbiological Best practices and procedures

Mechanical pipetting (no mouth pipetting allowed)

• Safe sharps handling

• Avoidance of splashes or aerosols

• Daily decontamination of all work surfaces when work is complete

• Regular handwashing

• Prohibition of food, drink, and smoking materials

• The use of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as goggles, gloves,

and a lab coat or gown

• Biohazard signs

• BSL-1 labs also require immediate decontamination after spills. Infectious

materials should also be decontaminated prior to disposal, generally through

the use of an autoclave

Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2):

The standard practices, safety equipment, and facility specifications are

applicable to:

laboratories in which work is performed using a broad-spectrum of

biological agents and toxins that are associated with causing disease in

humans of varying severity vaccine or therapy often available

Example bsl-2

Hepatitis B virus, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Salmonella ,

and Toxoplasma

Containment level 2:

This level of containment depends on standard microbiological best

practices and procedures that listed in BSL-1, with special primary or

secondary barriers, moreover

٠٠Greater care to prevent injuries, as well as ingestion and mucous membrane

exposures.

• Waste decontamination

• The separation of laboratory spaces from office and public spaces

• Access to a BSL-2 lab is far more restrictive than to a BSL-1 lab. Outside

personnel, or those with an increased risk of contamination, are often restricted

from entering the area while work is underway

Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3):

The standard practices, safety equipment, and facility specifications are

applicable to:

applicable to:

- laboratories in which work is performed using indigenous or exotic

biological agents with a potential for respiratory transmission and those

that may cause serious and potentially lethal infection

Example bsl-3

Mycobacterium tuberculosis , St. Louis encephalitis virus, and Coxiella

burnetii

The primary routes of exposure BSL3

accidental exposure via the skin or mucosal routes and inhalation of potentially

infectious aerosols

Containment level 3:

This level of containment depends on standard microbiological best

practices and procedures that listed in BSL-1 and BSL-2, with special

primary or secondary barriers, moreover

The use respirators and/or coveralls is often required

• Access to a hands-free sink and eyewash station available near the exit.

• Sustained directional airflow to draw air into the laboratory from clean areas

(exhaust air cannot be recirculate)

• Self-closing set of locking doors with access away from general building

corridors.

• Access to a BSL-3 laboratory is restricted and controlled at all times

Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4):

The standard practices, safety equipment, and facility specifications are

applicable to:

-

‘ laboratories working with dangerous and exotic biological agents that pose a

high individual risk of life-threatening disease that may be transmitted via the

aerosol route and for which there is no available vaccine or therapy.

Example bsl-4

Marburg virus and Congo-Crimean hemorrhagic fever virus are

Containment level 3:

This level of containment depends on standard microbiological best

practices and procedures that listed in BSL-3, with special primary or

secondary barriers, moreover:

Personnel must change clothing before entering the facility and shower

upon exiting

• All materials must be decontaminated before leaving the facility

• Personnel must wear the PPE from lower BSL levels, as well as a full-body,

air-supplied, positive pressure suit

• Access to a Class III biological safety cabinet

• BSL-4 labs are extremely isolated, often located in an isolated and restricted

zone of a building or in a separate building entirely. BSL-4 labs also feature

a dedicated supply of exhaust air, as well as vacuum lines and

decontamination systems