BSL

Agents

Practices

Safety Equipment
(Primary Barriers)

Facilities
(Secondary Barriers)

1

Not known to consistently cause disease in healthy adults

Standard Microbiological Practices

None required

Open bench top sink required

2

Associated with human disease, hazard = percutaneous injury, ingestion, mucous membrane exposure

BSL-1 practice plus:

• Limited access
• Biohazard warning signs
• “Sharps” precautions
• Biosafety manual defining any needed waste decontamination or medical surveillance policies

Primary barriers = Class I or II BSCs or other physical containment devices used for all manipulations of agents that cause splashes or aerosols of infectious materials; PPE: laboratory coats, gloves, and face protection as needed

BSL-1 plus:

Autoclave available

3

Indigenous or exotic agents with potential for aerosol transmission; disease may have serious or lethal consequences

BSL-2 practice plus:

• Controlled access
• Decontamination of all waste
• Decontamination of lab clothing before laundering
• Baseline serum

Primary barriers = Class I or II BSCs or other physical containment devices used for all open manipulations of agents; PPE: protective lab clothing, gloves, and respiratory protection as needed

BSL-2 plus:

• Physical separation from access corridors
• Self-closing, double-door access
• Exhausted air not recirculated
• Negative airflow into laboratory

4

Dangerous/exotic agents which pose high risk of life-threatening disease, aerosol-transmitted lab infections; or related agents with unknown risk of transmission

BSL-3 practice plus:

• Clothing change before entering
• Shower on exit
• All material decontaminated on exit from facility

Primary barriers = All procedures conducted in Class III BSCs or Class I or II BSCs in combination with full-body, air-supplied, positive pressure personnel suit

BSL-3 plus:

• Separate building or isolated zone
• Dedicated supply and exhaust, vacuum, and decon systems
• Other requirements outlined in the BMBL text