Biosafety

Biosafety Levels 1 to 4 were established by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). They are combinations of laboratory practices and techniques, safety equipment and facilities.

Biosafety Level 1 (BSL1): Work with defined and characterized strains of viable micro organisms not known to cause disease in healthy adult humans. The laboratory isn’t necessarily separated from the overall traffic patterns within the building. Work is usually conducted on open bench tops using standard microbiological practices.

Biosafety Level 2 (BSL2): Work with moderate-risk agents present within the community and associated with human disease in varying severity. A Class I or Class II biological safety cabinet is very much recommended for work involving these agents.

Biosafety Level 3(BSL3): work is done with indigenous or exotic agents with a possible for respiratory transmission which can cause serious and potentially lethal infection. More emphasis is placed on primary and secondary barriers to guard experts within the contagious area and environment from exposure to infectious aerosols.

Biosafety Level 4 (BSL4): Work with dangerous and exotic agents with a high risk of life-threatening disease could be transmitted via the aerosol route, without any available vaccine or therapy. The facility is either in a separate building or in a controlled area within a building, which is isolated from the rest of the building.