Laboratory Biosafety Overview
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary goal of laboratory biosafety?

To protect workers, products, and the environment while manipulating biological organisms.

Why is it essential to have a knowledgeable supervisor and personnel in a laboratory?

They ensure awareness of potential hazards and proficiency in safety practices and techniques.

What should be done to prevent unauthorized access to laboratory areas?

Biohazard warning signs should be posted, and only authorized personnel should be allowed to enter.

List two key personal protective equipment items required in the laboratory.

<p>Laboratory coats and safety glasses (goggles).</p> Signup and view all the answers

What practices should be avoided regarding food and drink in the laboratory?

<p>Eating, drinking, and storing human foods or drinks in the laboratory are prohibited.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the major restrictions on pipetting in the laboratory?

<p>Pipetting by mouth must be strictly forbidden.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of biosafety levels in laboratory settings?

<p>Biosafety levels provide increasing degrees of protection based on the risk associated with the biological agents used.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes Biosafety Level 1 from higher biosafety levels?

<p>Biosafety Level 1 is for agents not known to cause disease in healthy humans and poses minimal hazards.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the primary barriers for biosafety level 1 laboratories?

<p>Laboratory coats, gowns, or uniforms should be worn, and gloves are required if the skin is broken or has a rash.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of having doors in biosafety level 1 laboratories?

<p>Doors are for access control to prevent unauthorized entry and maintain safety.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What additional safety equipment is required for biosafety level 2 laboratories compared to level 1?

<p>Biological safety cabinets and face protection such as goggles or masks are required.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What should be done if splashes of microorganisms are likely in a biosafety level 2 laboratory?

<p>Protective eyewear should be worn to guard against splashes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why are biological safety cabinets located away from doors and windows in biosafety level 2?

<p>To ensure that fluctuations in air supply and potential disruptions do not compromise containment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

List two safety equipment requirements for biosafety level 3 laboratories.

<p>Protective laboratory clothing and gloves must be worn when handling infectious materials.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the key feature that distinguishes biosafety level 3 from biosafety level 2?

<p>Biosafety level 3 is suitable for agents that can cause serious or potentially lethal disease via inhalation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of washing facility is required in a biosafety level 2 laboratory?

<p>An eyewash station should be readily available.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main reason why disposable gloves should not be reused?

<p>Disposable gloves should not be reused to prevent contamination and ensure safety when handling infectious materials.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of biological safety cabinet is required for all manipulations of infectious materials in BSL-3 laboratories?

<p>A Class II or Class III biological safety cabinet is required for all manipulations of infectious materials in BSL-3 laboratories.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Describe one of the primary barriers employed in BSL-4 laboratory facilities.

<p>In BSL-4 laboratories, all procedures are conducted within a Class III biological safety cabinet, which offers maximum containment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a critical characteristic of the walls, floors, and ceilings in BSL-3 labs?

<p>The interior surfaces of walls, floors, and ceilings in BSL-3 labs are constructed for easy cleaning and decontamination.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is air handled within BSL-3 facilities to ensure safety from aerosol transmission?

<p>A ducted exhaust air ventilation system is provided, and equipment producing aerosols is contained and exhausts air through HEPA filters.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What ensures restricted access to BSL-3 laboratories?

<p>Access to BSL-3 laboratories is restricted through a series of two self-closing doors.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What feature distinguishes BSL-4 laboratory ventilation systems from those in BSL-3 labs?

<p>BSL-4 laboratories have a dedicated non-recirculating ventilation system, ensuring air does not cycle back into the lab.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the annual re-verification of BSL-3 facilities?

<p>Facilities are re-verified annually to ensure compliance with safety procedures and to enhance biosafety based on operational experience.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Laboratory Biosafety

  • Definition: The application of safety principles to laboratories where biological organisms are manipulated.
  • Protection Goal: Protecting workers, products, and the environment.

General Lab Requirements

  • Knowledgeable Supervisor: Essential for overseeing lab procedures.
  • Knowledgeable Personnel: Laboratory staff must be aware of potential hazards and proficient in safety practices and techniques.
  • Lab-Specific Biosafety Manual: A crucial document outlining specific safety procedures for the lab.

Basic Laboratory Biosafety

  • Biohazard Warning Signs: Required for all laboratory doors.
  • Authorized Personnel Only: Entry to lab working areas limited to authorized individuals.
  • Keep Laboratory Doors Closed: Maintaining closed doors helps prevent accidental exposure.
  • Children Restricted: Children are not authorized to enter lab areas.
  • Animal Restrictions: Animals are only admitted if involved in the lab work.

Personnel Protection

  • Protective Gear: Lab coats, gowns, and overshoes must be worn at all times.
  • Gloves: Needed when handling blood or body fluids.
  • Safety Glasses: Essential eye protection against splashes or UV sources.
  • Closed-Toe Shoes: Open-toed shoes are prohibited in laboratories.
  • Eating/Drinking/Smoking Restrictions: Eating, drinking, and smoking are not permitted in laboratory areas.
  • Lab Coat Storage: Lab coats should not be stored in the same locker as street clothes.
  • Immunization Programs: Immunization programs are important.

Standard Practices in All Lab Levels

  • No Pipetting by Mouth: This practice is strictly forbidden.
  • Aerosol Prevention: All procedures should prevent the creation of aerosols or droplets when handling live agents, which must be carried out inside biosafety cabinets.
  • Needle Usage: Limit needle use, and substitute plastic for glass where appropriate.
  • Reporting Spills/Accidents: All spills, accidents, and exposures to infectious materials require immediate reporting by the supervisor.
  • Spill/Contamination Cleanup: Properly clean up all spills, disinfecting the affected area.
  • Contaminated Liquid Disposal: Decontaminate contaminated liquids before discharging them into the sanitary sewer.
  • PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) Use: All appropriate PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) must be used.
  • Protected Documents: Ensure documents removed from the lab are protected from contamination.

Biosafety Levels

  • Purpose: Four levels (BSL-1, 2, 3, 4) provide increasing degrees of protection from dangerous microorganisms.

Biosafety Level 1

  • Agent Suitability: Suitable for working with agents not known to cause disease in healthy humans, having minimal hazard potential to personnel and environment.
  • Examples: Bacillus subtilis, E. coli
  • Primary Barriers: Laboratory coats, gowns, or uniforms, gloves when skin is broken or rash is present, protective eyewear for splashes.
  • Secondary Barriers: Doors for access control, handwashing sinks, easily cleanable laboratories, bench tops resistant to water, heat, and chemicals, and readily accessible spaces between equipment.

Biosafety Level 2

  • Agent Suitability: Suitable for agents with moderate potential hazard to personnel and the environment.
  • Examples: Measles virus, HBV, Salmonella.
  • Primary Barriers: Properly maintained biological safety cabinets (preferably Class II), sealed rotor heads or centrifuge cups, face protection (goggles, mask, face shield), protective lab coats, gowns, or uniforms; gloves worn when handling infectious materials, contaminated surfaces or equipment.
  • Secondary Barriers: Biological safety cabinets installed in a way that doesn't cause operation parameters deviations; located away from potentially disruptive equipment or doors and windows; includes eyewash station and adequate illumination.

Biosafety Level 3

  • Agent Suitability: Suitable for working with infectious agents that cause serious or potentially fatal diseases, primarily by inhalation.
  • Examples: Tuberculosis (TB), HIV
  • Primary Barriers: Protective lab clothing (solid-front or wrap-around gowns, scrub suits, or coveralls), gloves worn when handling infectious materials, infected animals, or contaminated equipment. Disposable gloves are not to be reused. Material handling procedures in Class II or Class III biological safety cabinets. Respiratory and face protection in rooms containing infected animals.
  • Secondary Barriers: Separate laboratory, access restricted to a series of self-closing doors, interior surfaces constructed for easy cleaning and decontamination, all windows closed and sealed; method for decontaminating wastes (autoclave, chemical disinfection or incineration); biological safety cabinets located away from doors. A ducted exhaust air ventilation system is needed. Equipment producing aerosols must have air exhausted through HEPA filters.

Biosafety Level 4

  • Agent Suitability: Suitable for agents that pose a high individual risk of aerosol transmission, causing lab-acquired infectious or life-threatening diseases.
  • Examples: Ebola Zaire virus, Rift Valley fever virus
  • Primary Barriers: All procedures are conducted in a Class III biological safety cabinet.
  • Secondary Barriers: Separate building or isolated zone, sealed internal shell in cabinet and inner change room for fumigation; handwashing sinks, self-closing and lockable doors; breakage-resistant, sealed windows; dedicated non-recirculating ventilation system; HEPA filter systems for decontamination of air entering and leaving rooms. Facilities re-verify and procedures are modified based on experience.

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Laboratory Biosafety Lecture Notes PDF

Description

This quiz covers essential topics related to laboratory biosafety, including the roles of personnel, the significance of biosafety levels, and protective measures in laboratory environments. It highlights key aspects of safety equipment and protocols necessary to maintain secure and safe laboratory practices.

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