The document discusses biosafety principles and practices for protecting laboratory personnel and the environment from exposure to potentially infectious biological materials and agents, including determining the risks posed by different agents, assessing those risks, and establishing biosafety levels and containment procedures appropriate to the level of risk.

1. Basic Biosafety Principles

2.  Principles and practices employed to protect
laboratory personnel and the environment from
exposure or infection while working with living
organisms, biological materials, or agents.
 Included are any materials that may be potentially
infectious.
 Includes recombinant DNA research
What is Biosafety?

3.  The “agent” is the what creates risk
 Risks to the worker or environment are
often unknown
 Determining “acceptable risk”?
Agents and Risks

4.  There is always risk!
 The risk must be identified
 The risk is evaluated
 The risk must be measured
 Plan to minimize the risk
Assessing Risk

5.  Assessment is conducted by a Biosafety
Professional in partnership with and based on
information provided by the Principal
Investigator
 The assessment is presented to the
Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) for
approval
Who Determines Acceptable Risk?

6.  Understand the biology of the agent
 Susceptibility and transmission within
the host
 Hazards associated with equipment
and procedures
 Goal:
 Provide the highest practical protection
and the lowest practical exposure
Identifying Risk

7.  Worst case scenario -What might happen?
 Likelihood of an event
 Seriousness of the incident
 Actions needed to resolve the problems
Evaluating Risk Acceptability

8.  Since there is no such thing as “no risk”
 “Safe” means risk has been judged acceptable
 Judging risk is a subjective- humans make
decisions
 Measuring risk is objective- use available
guidelines, data, and documentation
 Keep records of how determinations were made
due to subjective nature of the process
What is Acceptable Risk?

9. Sunday, Sep. 20, 2009
Did the Plague Kill Illinois Scientist?
By AP
(AP / CHICAGO) — The University of Chicago Medical Center says the infection that killed a
scientist may be connected to bacteria he researched that causes the plague.
The university said Saturday that its researcher studied the genetics of harmful bacteria including
Yersinia pestis, which causes the illness. He died Sept. 13. His name and age haven't been
released
The medical center says the bacteria he worked with was a weakened strain that isn't known to cause
illness in healthy adults. The strain was approved by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention for laboratory studies.
An autopsy found no obvious cause of death but did find the presence of the bacteria. More tests are
planned. No other illnesses have been reported.

10. Biosafety in Various Disciplines
Biosafety is related to several fields
 ECOLOGY: referring to imported
life forms not indigenous to the
region (Reggie the alligator)
 AGRICULTURE: reducing the
risk of alien viral or transgenic
genes, or prions such as
BSE/"MadCow“; reducing the risk
of food bacterial contamination
 MEDICINE: referring to
organs or tissues from biological
origin, or genetic therapy
products, virus; levels of lab
containment protocols BSL-1, 2,
3, 4 in rising order of danger
 CHEMISTRY: i.e., nitrates in
water, PCB levels affecting
fertility
 EXOBIOLOGY: i.e., NASA's
policy for containing alien
microbes that may exist on space
samples - sometimes called
"biosafety level 5"

11. Biosafety in Academic Research
 Research Universities:
Promoting safe laboratory
practices, and procedures;
proper use of containment
equipment and facilities;
provides advice on
laboratory design and risk
assesment of experiments
involving infectious agents,
rDNA in-vitro and in-vivo.
Bottom Line: Risk & Containment

12. Biohazard Symbol
 Charles Baldwin at
National Cancer
Institute at NIH.
 Symbol to be
“memorable but
meaningless” so it
could be learned.
 Blaze orange – most
visible under harsh
conditions

13. Biosafety Issues
 Laboratory Safety
 Bloodborne pathogens (BBP)
 Recombinant DNA (rDNA)
 Biological waste disposal
 Infectious substance and
diagnostic specimen shipping

14. Biosafety Issues (con’t.)
 Respiratory Protection
 Bioterrorism and Select agents
 Mold and indoor air quality
 Occupational safety and health in the use
of research animals
 Biohazards used in animal models

15. Biohazardous Materials
 Viruses
 Bacteria
 Fungi
 Chlamydiae/Rickettsiae
 Prions
 Recombinant DNA

16. Biohazardous materials
 Transgenic Plants, Animals and Insects

17. Transgenic Insects

18. Biohazardous Materials
 Human and Primate Cells, Tissues, and
Body Fluids
 Brain Tissue from Demented Patients
 Viral Vectors
 Replication deficient viruses

19. Biosafety In Microbiological
and Biomedical Laboratories
“BMBL” (acronym)
CDC/NIH Publication
Safety “Guidelines”
Regulations of Institution receives
NIH funding
Code of Practice and “Gold”
Standard in Industry anl
Gold Standard
Clinical & Research Lab.
Biosafety Concepts
HHS Publication No. (CDC) 93-8395

20. The New BMBL
 Early print
edition….
 Emphasis on “Risk
& Containment”

21. The BMBL continues
to be published by
the
CDC and the NIH
5th edition is now at
the printers
http://www.cdc.gov/od/ohs/bi
osfty/bmbl5/bmbl5toc.htm
Biosafety Concepts
The BMBL

22. Are the NIH Guidelines Optional?
 “Guidelines” does not mean
“optional”
 They are a term and condition of
NIH funding for recombinant DNA
research.
From Kathryn Harris, NIH, OBA

23. Biosafety Concepts from
the BMBL
Principles of Biosafety
 Practice and Procedures
 Standard Practices
 Special Practices & Considerations
 Safety Equipment
 Facility Design and Construction
 Increasing levels of protection

24. Principles of Biosafety
Biosafety Levels 1-4 (BSL)
 Increasing levels of employee and environmental protection
 Guidelines for working safely in research & medical
laboratory facilities
Animal Biosafety Levels 1- 4
(ABSL)
 Laboratory animal facilities
 Animal models that support research
 Guidelines for working safely in animal research facilities

25. Biosafety
Concepts
The BMBL
(1) Standard Microbiological Practices
 Most important concept / Strict adherence
 Aware of potential hazard
 Trained & proficient in techniques
 Supervisors responsible for:
 Appropriate Laboratory facilities
 Personnel & Training
 Special practices & precautions
 Occupational Health Programs

26. Biosafety Issues
The BMBL
(2) Safety Equipment
 Primary Containment Barrier
 Minimize exposure to hazard
 Prevent contact / Contain aerosols
 Engineering controls/ equipment
 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
 Gloves, gowns, Respirator, Face shield, Booties
 Biological Safety Cabinets
 Covered or ventilated animal cage systems

27. Biosafety Concepts
The BMBL
(3) Facility Design and
Construction
 Secondary Barrier/ Engineering
controls
 Contributes to worker protection
 Protects outside the laboratory
 Environment & Neighborhood
 Ex. Building & Lab design,
Ventilation, Autoclaves, Cage wash
facilities, etc.

28. Laboratory Design
“Warehouse Type Lab”

29. Discussion
 What are some of the
negatives and
positives of this open
lab concept?

30. Biosafety Level-1
Concepts of Biosafety
Biosafety Level-1 (BSL-1 or ABSL-1)
 Well characterized agents
 Agents not known to cause disease (in healthy human
adults; now healthy immunocompetent adults)
 Prophylactic treatment available
 Open bench procedures
 Animals in open cage system or open environment
(outdoors)
 Good laboratory practices

31. Risk Group 1 Agents
 E.coli K-12
 Transgenic Plants
 Plasmids
 Fungi
 Mold
 Yeast

32. BSL-1 Practices
 Bench-top work allowed
 Daily Decontamination
 Manual pipetting
 Required Handwashing
 Red bag waste
 Bio cabinet not required
(unless creating aerosols)
 2˚ containment

33. Risk Group 2 Agents
 Human or Primate
Cells
 Herpes Simplex Virus
 Replication
Incompetent
Attenuated Human
Immunodeficiency
Virus
 Patient specimens

34. BSL-2 Practices
Concepts of Biosafety
Practices & Procedures
 Agents associated w/ human disease
 Treatment for disease available
 Agent poses moderate hazard to personnel and
environment
 Direct contact or exposure
 Percutaneous exposure
 Scratch, Puncture, Needle stick
 Mucus membrane exposure
 Eyes, Mouth, open cut

35. BSL-2 Practices
 Limited access to lab
when work in progress
 Daily decontamination
 Mechanical pipetting
 Labcoat, safety glasses
and gloves required
 Red bag & sharps
containers required

36. BSL-2 Practices (con’t)
 Biohaz. Sign posted at
entrance to lab
 Label all equipment
(incubators, freezers, etc.)
 TC room – negative air flow
 Documented training
 Baseline serology or pre-
vaccination may be required

37. Risk Group 3 Agents
 Human
Immunodeficiency
Virus
 Mycobacterium
tuberculosis
 Coxiella burnetii

38. Biosafety Level 3
Working in High Containment
Biosafety Level-3 (BSL-3 or
ABSL-3)
 Indigenous or exotic agents
 Aerosol transmission
 Serious health effects
 Treatment may or may not exist

39. BSL-3 Practices
 Public access NOT permitted
 Daily decontamination after spill and
upon completion of experiment
 Autoclave required and waste is
disposed at the end of day
 Required foot activated handwashing
sink and controls
 No sharps unless absolutely necessary

40. BSL-3 Practices (con’t)
 Aerosol minimization procedures required
 Wrap around disposable clothing is
required. Specialized equipment may be
required depending upon procedures
 Biohaz. Signs and labels posted
 Air flow from low hazard to high hazard
“Pressure Mapping”

41. BSL-3 Practices (con’t)
 Bench top work not permitted
 Documented training and personnel competency
certification (for BSL-3 procedures)
 Baseline serology
 Spills – report immediately and treat accordingly
 Vaccinations/post exposure protocols and SOP’s,
Biosafety Manual, Biosafety Officer

42. UCSD’s BSL-3

43. Biosafety Level-4
Working in High Containment
Biosafety Level-4
 Builds on BSL-3/ ABSL-3 practices
 Maximum containment facilities
 Pressurized Containment Suite
 BSL-3 + Class III Biosafety Cabinet
 Chemical decontamination showers
 Liquid effluent collection / decontamination
 No BSL-4 labs exist at UCSD

44. Biosafety Level 4
 Lassa Fever Virus
 Ebola Hemmorrhagic
Fever Virus
 Marburg Virus
 Herpes B Virus

45. Biosafety Concepts
Working in High Containment
Biosafety Level-4 (BSL-4 or ABSL-4)
 Dangerous/exotic agents
 Life threatening disease
 Aerosol transmission
 Agents of unknown risk
of transmission or health affects
 No known treatment

46. Animal Biosafety Level-4
Working in High Containment

47. Bacterial:
76% from clinical labs
8% from research labs
Exposure:
60% acquired from inhalation
Other exposures include:
digestion, sharps, splashes, direct and indirect contact
Laboratory Acquired Infections (LAI)

48. Viral
 16% from clinical labs
 70% from research labs
 32% from animal related activities
Laboratory Acquired Infections
(LAI)

49. General Good Lab Technique
 Hygienic Practices
 No Smoking, Eating, Applying cosmetics, lip
balm, contacts
 Wash hands after procedures
 Decontaminate lab bench before and after
work

50. General Operational Practices
 Proper attire
 Minimum – lab coat, safety glasses, gloves
 Plan your work
 Know in advance what you are working with
 Read available resources (MSDS)
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/pphb-dgspsp/msds-
ftss/index.html

51. Animal Containment Points
CDC - 1957
CDC & UCSD - 2005
Courtesy of Paul Vinson, CDC

52. Discussion # 2
 Based on what you know about Biosafety
Levels, Practices and Operational Controls,
what are some discussion issues for
conducting Biohazard risk assessments?
 How do you approach risks when
addressing a particular organism?

54. Risk Assessment
In-Vitro In-Vivo Human Clinical
Trial

55. Addressing Risk Assessments
 What is the organism?
 Is it Wild-type, attenuated, irradiated, or
chemically treated? Look at kill data or kill
curves.
 What is the max. concentration, volume,
infectious dose?
 What is the work space like?
 Aerosolizing procedures? How do they contain
their aerosols?

56. Risk Assessment, con’t
 Are personnel trained? Do
personnel understand the
organism, infectious dose and
symptoms?
 What are their experimental
procedures?
 Will they be transporting the
material? Shipping intra, inter-
state or international?
 Are they doing tissue culture?
 Do they have adequate
containment equipment?
Tom Pugh

57. Risk Assessment, Con’t
 Are they doing this
work in-vivo? Have
you consulted and
discussed this with
the Vets and IACUC
to determine special
needs and housing?
 Waste issues
addressed?
 Pregnancy issues with
the organisms?

58. Risk Assessment, con’t
 Do they share their
Tissue Culture room?
 Do they have more than
1 Biosafety Cabinet?
 Occupational Health
informed and set up to
receive patient or offer
counseling?

59. 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 min contact time
 Wipe up working towards center
 Use tongs if broken glass is involved
Is Recombinant DNA involved?

60. First Aid Measures
 Splash to Eye or Needlestick Injury
 Rinse thoroughly for 15 minutes at the eyewash or
sink