MLSP

• Biosafety is the discipline addressing the safe handling and containment of infectious microorganisms and hazardous biological materials.
• The practice of safe handling of pathogenic micro-organisms and their toxins in the biological laboratory is accomplished through the application of containment principles and the risk assessment.
• Biosecurity describes protection, control and accountability for valuable biological materials within laboratories, in order to prevent their loss, theft, misuse, diversion of, unauthorized access or intentional release, regardless of the biorisk's acceptability.
• A biohazard, also known as a biological hazard, is a biological substance that poses a threat to human and animal health.
• Examples of biohazards include: Human or animal blood, Human or animal waste and body fluids, Deceased animals, Human remains, Used drug needles, Medical waste (used syringes and bandages), Rotting food.
• Biological hazards, also known as biohazards, refer to biological substances that pose a threat to the health of living organisms, primarily that of humans.
• The biohazard symbol was developed in 1966 by Charles Baldwin, an environmental-health engineer working for the Dow Chemical Company on the containment products.
• The biohazard symbol is used in the labeling of biological materials that carry a significant health risk, including viral samples and used hypodermic needles.
• In unicode, the biohazard symbol is U+2623.
• Bio hazardous agents are classified for transportation by UN Number: Category A, UN 2814 – Infectious substance, affecting humans: An infectious substance in a form capable of causing permanent disability or life-threatening or fatal disease in otherwise healthy humans or animals when exposure to it occurs.
• Work in the BSC should not affect the integrity of the airflow and should not be used within the BSC.
• Windows in the BSC that open should be kept closed when the BSC is in use.
• Routinely remove the work surface and disinfect the tray beneath it.
• Close or cover all containers in the BSC.
• The purge time will vary by model and can be up to several minutes.
• Surface decontaminate items before removing them from the BSC.
• Upon completion of work, allow sufficient time for the air in the BSC to purge (i.e., pass through the filter) before disrupting the air curtain by removing hands or unloading material from the BSC.
• If a corrosive disinfectant is used, the surface should be rinsed with water after disinfection to avoid corrosion of the stainless steel surfaces.
• Disinfect the interior surfaces of the BSC, including sides, back, lights, and interior of the glass, with a disinfectant effective against the pathogens in use, allowing an appropriate contact time.
• Germicidal UV lamps are not substitutes for proper cleaning of the BSC workzone and may cause performance degradation and compromise personnel safety when proper precautions are not taken.
• Routinely wipe the surface of the lights within the BSC with a suitable cleaner or disinfectant (e.g., ethanol).
• Category A, UN 2900 – Infectious substance, affecting animals (only): An infectious substance that is not in a form generally capable of causing permanent disability or life-threatening or fatal disease in otherwise healthy humans and animals when exposure to themselves occurs.
• Category B, UN 3373 – Biological substance transported for diagnostic or investigative purposes.
• In a Class III cabinet laboratory, passage through a minimum of two doors prior to entering the rooms containing the Class III biological safety cabinet(s) is required.
• At Biosafety Level 3, manipulation of all potentially infectious material must be conducted within a biological safety cabinet or other primary containment device.
• An efficient primary containment system must be in place, consisting of one or a combination of the following: Class III cabinet laboratory or suit laboratory.
• Personnel must be trained in emergency extraction procedures in the event of personnel injury or illness.
• A complete change of clothing and shoes is required prior to entering and upon exiting the laboratory.
• The code of practice for Biosafety Level 3 applies except where modified as follows:
• Laboratory equipment for Biosafety Level 2 and 3 is the same as for a basic laboratory.
• A suit decontamination shower must be provided and used by personnel leaving the containment laboratory area.
• Consideration should be given to equipment such as centrifuges, which will need additional containment accessories, for example, safety buckets or containment rotors.
• Before such a laboratory is constructed and put into operation, intensive consultations should be held with institutions that have had experience of operating a similar facility.
• Operational maximum containment laboratories – Biosafety Level 4 should be under the control of national or other appropriate health authorities.
• The features of a containment laboratory – Biosafety Level 3 also apply to a maximum containment laboratory – Biosafety Level 4 with the addition of the following:
• In a suit laboratory, the rooms are arranged so as to direct personnel through the changing and decontamination areas prior to entering areas where infectious materials are manipulated.
• Some centrifuges and other equipment, such as cell-sorting instruments for use with infected cells, may need additional local exhaust ventilation with HEPA filtration for efficient containment.
• The two-person rule should apply, whereby no individual ever works alone.
• A method of communication for routine and emergency contacts must be established between personnel working within the maximum containment laboratory – Biosafety Level 4 and support personnel outside the laboratory.
• The maximum containment laboratory – Biosafety Level 4 is designed for work with Risk Group 4 microorganisms.