Biosafety level Flashcards
Air flows in through HEPA to the outside or into the room through HEPA; possible contamination
BSC I
No air recirculation; total exhaust to the outside; possible contamination
BSC I B2
Exhaust air inside room with air recirculation; vertical laminar flow in sheets. Recommended types: IIA or IIB in schools/hospitals.
BSC II (General)
70% air recirculated; 30% air exhausted.
BSC II A1
Same as II A1 but with 100 LFM (linear feet per minute).
BSC II A2
70% air exhausted; 30% recirculated; exhaust air outside the building; suitable for radioisotopes, carcinogens, and toxic chemicals.
BSC II B1
Supply and exhaust air through HEPA; closed cabinet for BSL-4 research facilities.
BSC III
Ensure 3 feet of clearance around the BSC during operation for proper air circulation.
BSC Operation Requirements
Should be done after installation, if repositioned more than 18 inches, annually, or as indicated by risk assessment.
BSC Certification
Wear PPE → Adsorb with paper towel → Neutralize with disinfectant (10% bleach) → Dispose in yellow bag.
Spillage Procedure
Minimal risk, rarely causing disease
BSL-I
BSL-I representative organisms
Mycobacterium gordonae, Bacillus subtilis, Naegleria gruberi.
BSL-I safety practices
None, GLP, Handwashing, Limited Lab access, Decontamination, No or Low procedure, Individual & Community risk.
Moderate risk, can cause disease but rarely severe, with available treatment or prevention
BSL-II
BSL-II representative organisms
Broad spectrum, Common human pathogens: Salmonella, HIV, HBV, Influenza, Toxoplasma, F. tularensis, Prions.
BSC II safety practices
AFB without culture and for non-aerosolizing procedures, BSC-2, PPE, GLP, Proper Waste management, Pest management, Eye wash station, Same as above, Biohazard symbol on entrance, Immunization, Personnel training, Biosafety manual, Incident/Exposure procedures.
High risk, causes serious/deadly disease; treatment or prevention may or may not be available. Aerosol-generating manipulations of high concentrations of respiratory agents.
BSL-III
BSL-III representative organisms
Indigenous or exotic organisms: Mold stages of systemic fungi, St. Louis encephalitis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Chlamydophila psittaci, Coxiella burnetii, toxins of Clostridium, cultures of F. tularensis, Yersinia pestis.
BSL-III safety practices
Same as BSL-II, all equipment enclosed for laboratory manipulations (e.g., gas-tight chamber), solid-front or wrap-around PPE, scrub suits or coveralls not removed from the lab, negative pressure room airflow, access limited using anteroom, routine serum testing for seroconversion.
Extreme risk, causes serious/deadly disease; treatment or prevention is usually not available.
BSL-IV
BSL-IV representative organisms
Ebola, Lassa, Hemorrhagic fever viruses (Marburg, Congo-Crimean).
BSL-IV safety practices
Same as BSL-III, with specialized ventilation systems, laboratory in a separate building, items processed through fumigation chamber or airlock system, showering or chemical treatment of personnel, log of personnel/items entering and exiting, complex waste management.
Isolation technique for MDR bacteria, meningococcemia, sepsis
Strict; requires gown, mask, gloves.
Isolation technique for cancer, HIV, AIDS, burn patients
Protective/Reverse; requires gown, mask, gloves.
Isolation technique for Respiratory Tuberculosis, Brucella, Coxiella
Mask/Respirator.
Isolation technique for Enteric Salmonella, Giardia, Cryptosporidium
Gloves.
Droplet precautions for Pertussis, Influenza, Neisseria meningitidis and other bacterial meningitis, Coxsackie, RSV, Mumps, Rubella;
requires fluid-resistant mask and eye protection
Airborne precautions for Chickenpox, Shingles, Measles, Tuberculosis, SARS, Avian influenza (H5-H10)
requires N95 respirator, negative pressure, fluid-resistant mask, and eye protection.
