Basic concepts of Laboratory safety and biosecurity

• Biosafety

  • containment principles, technologies, and practices that are implemented to prevent unintentional exposure to pathogens and toxins, or their accidental release
  • protect people from germs
  • prevent exposure to and acquisition of infections
• Biosecurity


  • refers to the protection, control, and accountability for valuable biological materials within laboratories in order to prevent their unauthorized access, loss, theft, misuse or intentional release
  • protects germs from people
• Ira Baldwin


  became 1st scientific director of camp detrick
• After WW2, camp detrick was designated a permanent installation for biological research and development
• Newell Johnson


  • designed modifications for biosafety at the Camp Detrick
  • such as Class III BSC
• 1943


  year when Biosafety started
• Arnold Wedum


  who described the use of a mechanical pippetors to prevent laboratory-acquired infections
• Pharmaceutical company in Pennsylvania

  developed a ventilated cabinet to prevent infection from mycobacterium tuberculosis
• WHO


  aggressively pursued eradication of the virus (increasing mortality and morbidity due to smallpox)
• Arnold Wedum


  • director of Industrial Health and Safety at US Army BioResearch Lab
  • recognized as one of the pioneers of biosafety that provides foundation for evaluating the risks of handling infectious microorganisms
• Act on Prevention of Infectious Diseases(SOUTH KOREA)


  • where was this amended?
  • amended to require institutions that work with listed " Highly dangerous pathogens"
• Categories of Microorganisms According to Risk groups

  Group 1

  • unlikely to cause human or animal disease
  • low individual and community risk
• Categories of Microorganisms According to Risk groups

  Group 2

  • unlikely to be a significant risk to lab workers and community
  • Moderate individual risk and limited community risk
• Categories of Microorganisms According to Risk groups

  Group 3

  • known to cause serious disease
  • high individual risk, limited to moderate community risk
• Categories of Microorganisms According to Risk groups

  Group 4

  • known to produce life-threatening diseases
  • high individual and community risk
• Biosafety levels

  Level 1

  • not to cause disease in humans
  • most appropriate among undergraduate and secondary educational training and teaching lab that requires basic lab practices
• Biosafety levels

  Level 2

  • indigenous to moderate risk agents
  • Microbio techniques and clinical diagnostics
  • BCS is needed
• Biosafety levels

  Level 3

  • indigenous or toxic agents with potential for respiratory transmission
  • Secondary barriers are highly required
• Biosafety levels

  Level 4

  • dangerous and exotic agents that pose high individual risks of life-threatening disease
• Biological Safety Cabinets


  • enclosed, ventilated lab workspace for safely working with materials contaminated with or potentially contaminated with pathogens requiring a defined biosafety level
  • became commercially available in 1950
• Class II and III BSCs


  type of BCS that will protect your research materials from airborne contaminants with aid of HEPA supply filters