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What is the primary difference between Biosafety Level-3 (BSL-3) and Biosafety Level-4 (BSL-4)?
What is the primary difference between Biosafety Level-3 (BSL-3) and Biosafety Level-4 (BSL-4)?
BSL-4 builds on BSL-3 practices and adds maximum containment facilities, pressurized containment suites, chemical decontamination showers, and liquid effluent collection/decontamination.
What is the purpose of a Biosafety Cabinet in a laboratory setting?
What is the purpose of a Biosafety Cabinet in a laboratory setting?
To provide a safe environment for handling biological agents by containing aerosols and preventing contamination.
What personal protective equipment (PPE) is recommended when working with biological agents?
What personal protective equipment (PPE) is recommended when working with biological agents?
A minimum of lab coat, safety glasses, and gloves.
What is the proper procedure for cleaning up accidental spills of biological agents?
What is the proper procedure for cleaning up accidental spills of biological agents?
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What is Biosafety Level-4 (BSL-4) typically associated with?
What is Biosafety Level-4 (BSL-4) typically associated with?
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What is the importance of proper attire in a laboratory setting?
What is the importance of proper attire in a laboratory setting?
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What is the purpose of a Biosafety Officer and a Biosafety Manual?
What is the purpose of a Biosafety Officer and a Biosafety Manual?
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What is the significance of documenting training and personnel competency in a laboratory setting?
What is the significance of documenting training and personnel competency in a laboratory setting?
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What is the primary purpose of primary containment barriers in a laboratory setting?
What is the primary purpose of primary containment barriers in a laboratory setting?
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What type of agents are handled in Biosafety Level-1 laboratories?
What type of agents are handled in Biosafety Level-1 laboratories?
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What is the purpose of Biological Safety Cabinets in a laboratory?
What is the purpose of Biological Safety Cabinets in a laboratory?
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What type of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required in Biosafety Level-2 laboratories?
What type of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required in Biosafety Level-2 laboratories?
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What is the main difference between Biosafety Level-1 and Biosafety Level-2?
What is the main difference between Biosafety Level-1 and Biosafety Level-2?
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What is the purpose of daily decontamination in Biosafety Level-1 laboratories?
What is the purpose of daily decontamination in Biosafety Level-1 laboratories?
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What type of waste disposal is required in Biosafety Level-1 laboratories?
What type of waste disposal is required in Biosafety Level-1 laboratories?
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What is the primary purpose of Biosafety Cabinets in laboratory design?
What is the primary purpose of Biosafety Cabinets in laboratory design?
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What is the primary concern when working with Risk Group 3 Agents, such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis?
What is the primary concern when working with Risk Group 3 Agents, such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis?
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What is a critical aspect of Biosafety Level 3 practices?
What is a critical aspect of Biosafety Level 3 practices?
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What type of handwashing sink is required in a Biosafety Level 3 laboratory?
What type of handwashing sink is required in a Biosafety Level 3 laboratory?
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What personal protective equipment is required in a Biosafety Level 3 laboratory?
What personal protective equipment is required in a Biosafety Level 3 laboratory?
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What is the purpose of minimizing aerosol transmission in a Biosafety Level 3 laboratory?
What is the purpose of minimizing aerosol transmission in a Biosafety Level 3 laboratory?
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What is the purpose of specialized equipment in a Biosafety Level 3 laboratory?
What is the purpose of specialized equipment in a Biosafety Level 3 laboratory?
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Study Notes
Biosafety Level 3
- Risk Group 3 Agents include Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Coxiella burnetii
- BSL-3 agents are indigenous or exotic, have aerosol transmission, and can cause serious health effects with treatment may or may not exist
- BSL-3 practices include:
- Public access not permitted
- Daily decontamination after spill and upon completion of experiment
- Autoclave required and waste disposal at the end of day
- Required foot-activated handwashing sink and controls
- No sharps unless absolutely necessary
- Aerosol minimization procedures required
- Wrap-around disposable clothing is required
- Specialized equipment may be required depending on procedures
Biosafety Concepts
- Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) is a CDC/NIH publication
- The BMBL is a "Gold Standard" in industry and provides guidelines for safety in laboratories
- Biosafety issues include:
- Safety equipment
- Primary Containment Barrier
- Minimize exposure to hazard
- Engineering controls/equipment
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Biological Safety Cabinets
- Covered or ventilated animal cage systems
Biosafety Level 1
- BSL-1 agents are well characterized and not known to cause disease in healthy human adults
- Prophylactic treatment is available
- Open bench procedures are allowed
- Animals are in open cage systems or open environments
- Good laboratory practices are required
- Risk Group 1 Agents include E. coli K-12, transgenic plants, plasmids, fungi, mold, and yeast
Biosafety Level 1 Practices
- Bench-top work is allowed
- Daily decontamination is required
- Manual pipetting is allowed
- Handwashing is required
- Red bag waste is required
- Bio cabinet is not required unless creating aerosols
- 2˚ containment is required
Risk Group 2 Agents
- Risk Group 2 Agents include human or primate cells, herpes simplex virus, replication-incompetent viruses, and patient specimens
Biosafety Level 2 Practices
- Agents are associated with human disease
- Treatment for disease is available
- Agent poses moderate hazard to personnel and environment
- Direct contact or exposure can occur
- Percutaneous exposure and mucus membrane exposure can occur
- Practices include:
- Limited access to lab when work in progress
- Daily decontamination
- Mechanical pipetting
- Labcoat, safety glasses, and gloves required
- Red bag and sharps containers required
- Biohaz. signs and labels posted
- Air flow from low hazard to high hazard
Biosafety Level 3 Practices
- Bench-top work is not permitted
- Documented training and personnel competency certification required
- Baseline serology is required
- Spills must be reported immediately and treated accordingly
- Vaccinations/post-exposure protocols and SOPs are required
- Biosafety Manual and Biosafety Officer are required
Biosafety Level 4
- Builds on BSL-3/ABSL-3 practices
- Maximum containment facilities are required
- Pressurized Containment Suite is required
- Chemical decontamination showers are required
- Liquid effluent collection and decontamination are required
- Risk Group 4 Agents include Lassa fever virus, Ebola hemorrhagic fever virus, Marburg virus, and Herpes B virus
General Good Lab Technique
- Hygienic practices include:
- No smoking, eating, applying cosmetics, lip balm, or contacts
- Washing hands after procedures
- Decontaminating lab bench before and after work
- General operational practices include:
- Proper attire (minimum: lab coat, safety glasses, gloves)
- Planning your work
- Reading available resources (MSDS)
Accidental Spills
- Evacuate area, alert personnel, and cordon off so that aerosols may settle
- Don PPE, cover with paper towels, and apply bleach (1 part bleach: 9 parts water)
- Allow 15-20 minutes contact time
- Wipe up working towards center
- Use tongs if broken glass is involved
- Check if recombinant DNA is involved
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Description
This quiz covers the safety protocols and procedures for working with high-risk biological agents in a Biosafety Level 3 laboratory. Topics include signage, equipment labeling, ventilation systems, training, and vaccination requirements.