Biosafety

Question 1

What are all the biosafety levels?

Answer 1

BSL 1, BSL 2, BSL 3, and BSL 4

Question 2

What characteristics must an organism display to be categorized in each biosafety level?

Answer 2

• BSL 1: Microbes that are not known to cause disease to healthy adults and present minimal potential hazard to personnel and the environment
• BSL 2: Microbes that pose moderate health hazards to personnel and the environment. Microbes are typically indigenous and associated with diseases of varying severity. Access to the lab is restricted when work is being conducted
• BSL 3: Microbes are indigenous or exotic, and they can cause serious or potentially lethal disease through respiratory infection
• BSL 4: Microbes are dangerous and exotic, posing a high risk of aerosol transmitted infections which are frequently fatal without treatment or vaccines.

Question 3

What facilities/protective lab practices must a lab have each biosafety level?

Answer 3

• BSL 1: Work can be performed on an open lab bench or table and PPE can be work as needed. A sink must be available for hand washing
• BSL 2: PPE is worn which includes gloves and lab coats, goggles and face shields can be worn as needed. All procedures involving aerosols are performed within a hood and a decontamination method is available for proper disposals. Lab doors are self-closing. Sink and eyewash station are readily available.
• BSL 3: Personnel are under medical surveillance and may receive vaccinations as necessary. Access to the lab is restricted and controlled at all times. PPE must be won, and respirators might be required. Work with microbes must be done within a fume hood. Hands-free sink and eyewash are available near the exit. Lab must have sustained, directional airflow. Entrance to the lab is through two sets of self-closing and locking doors.
• BSL 4: Change clothes before entering, shower and decontaminate before exiting. All work must be done within a Class III hood or by wearing a full body, air supplied, pressure positive suit. Lab is in a separate building or in an isolated and restricted zone of the building. The lab has a dedicated supply and exhaust air as well as vacuum lines and decontamination systems.

Question 4

What are the 4 types of organisms studied in labs? What differentiates them from each other?

Answer 4

• Avirulent organisms: not considered human pathogens, many are in the normal flora and are not pathogenic to humans with a normal immune status.
• Attenuated strains: inactivation of microorganisms virulence factors
• Opportunistic pathogens: organisms that do not cause infection, but may when a person is immunocompromised
• Pathogens of host beyond the lab: normal host may be plants or invertebrates