MLS

• Laboratory biosafety is the set of containment principles, technologies and practices that are implemented to prevent the unintentional exposure to biological agents and toxins, or their accidental release.
• Laboratory biosecurity is the set of measures aimed at the protection, control and accountability for valuable biological materials and protection of other valuable items.
• Biosafety Level 4 is required for work with dangerous and exotic agents that pose high individual risks of life-threatening diseases that may be transmitted via aerosol route, for which there are no available vaccines or treatment, such as Marburg or the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever.
• Biosafety Level 1 (BSL-1) is suitable for work involving viable microorganisms that are defined and with well-characterized strains known not to cause disease in humans, such as B. subtilis and Naegleria gruberi.
• Safe recapping procedures should be avoided if not, should be done in a safe way.
• Infection control refers to preventive measures to minimize or prevent acquisition of infections from a healthcare setting, which can be classified into contact precaution, airborne precaution, and droplets.
• Levels of cleaning and disinfection include Used needles, scalpel blades, and other sharps are potentially infectious, proper handling of syringes is important, and safety awareness in laboratories is crucial.
• Biological agents, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and prions, are classified into four Hazard Groups: the agent is pathogenic to humans, the agent is a hazard to employees, the agent is transmissible to the community, and there is effective prophylaxis or treatment available.
• Airborne and droplet precaution involves the use of respiratory protective gear, masks, and eye protection like safety glasses or goggles.
• Contact precaution involves the use of gloves and handwashing, providing a protective barrier.
• Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) is designed for labs that deal with indigenous moderate-risk agents present in the community, such as Hepa B, HIV, salmonellae, and toxoplasma species.
• Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) puts emphasis on primary and secondary barriers in the protection of personnel, community, and environment from infectious aerosol exposure, such as M. tuberculosis.
• The European Biological Safety Association (EBSA) aims to provide a forum for discussions & debates on issues of concern and to represent those working in the field of biosafety.
• The Department of Health (DOH) with NCBP formulated guidelines in the assessment of the impacts on health posed by modern biotechnology and its applications.
• CWA 15793 can be applied to international stakeholders but do not have the force of regulation while conformity is voluntary.
• The guidelines aid in evaluating & monitoring processed food derived from or containing GMO.
• Risk group 3 includes microorganisms that are known to cause serious diseases.
• According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Risk group 1 includes microorganisms that are unlikely to cause human or animal disease and bring about low individual & community risk.
• The Laboratory Biosafety Manual 3rd edition (WHO)- 1983 includes information on the different levels of containment laboratories, different types of biological safety cabinets, good microbiological techniques, & how to disinfect & sterilize equipment.
• Within laboratories, measures are put in place to prevent loss, theft, misuse, diversion of, and/or unauthorized access or intentional unauthorized release of equipment.
• The Asia-Pacific Biosafety Association (A-PBA) aims to contribute to the development of the best biosafety practices.
• Biorisk mitigation refers to actions and control measures that are put into place to reduce or eliminate the risks associated with biological agents and toxins and other Valuable Laboratory Material (VLM).
• In 2008, the Comité Europeen de Normalisation published the CEN Workshop Agreement 15792 (CWA 15793), which focuses on laboratory biorisk management and offers a mechanism where stakeholders can develop consensus standards & requirements in an open access.
• Risk group 2 includes microorganisms that are unlikely to be significant risk to laboratory workers & the community, livestock or the environment and lab exposure may cause infection, however, effective treatment & preventive measures are available while the risk of spread is limited; brings moderate individual risk & limited community risk.
• The American Biological Safety Association (ABSA) promotes biosafety as a scientific discipline and provides guidance to its members on the regulatory regime present in North America.
• The Phil Biosafety & Biosecurity Association (PhBBA) was created by the health & education sectors and executive, legislative & judicial branches of the government.
• The National Biosafety Framework (NBF) EO 514 s 2006 prescribes the guidelines for implementation, strengthening the National Committee on Biosafety of the Phil.
• AD 8 by Department of Agriculture sets policies on the importation & release of plants & plant products derived from modern biotechnology.
• The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CPB)- 2003 ensures an adequate level of protection in safe transfer, handling, & use of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology.
• The National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines (NCBP) EO430s1990 focuses on the organizational structure for biosafety: procedures for evaluation of proposals with biosafety concerns; procedures & guidelines on the introduction, movement & field release of regulated materials; & procedures on physico-chemical & biological containment.
• The Biological Risk Association Phil (BRAP) works to serve the emergent concerns of biological risk management in various professional fields.
• • Pull glove off over fingers [/INSTANT] • Discard glove in a sharps container.
• Biorisk management is a system or process to control safety and security risks associated with the handling or storage and disposal of biological agents and toxins in laboratories and facilities.
• The AMP model, developed by the World Health Organization, is a framework for biorisk management.
• Risk assessment is the initial step in implementing biorisk management and includes identification of hazards and characterization of risks.
• A hazard is anything that has a potential to cause harm.
• Risk is generally defined as the possibility that something unpleasant will happen.
• Steps in doing risk assessment include defining the situation, defining the risks, characterizing the risk, determining if risks are acceptable or not, and mitigation procedures.
• Mitigation procedures are actions and control measures that are put into place to reduce or eliminate the risks associated with biological agents and toxins.
• Mitigating measures include elimination, substitution, engineering control, and administrative controls.