1. Introduction to
Biosafety
By
Prof. SD Tidke
Modern CABT, Pune

2. Biosafety
• According to the Centre Of Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC)
• Biosafety is the application of safety precautions that
reduce a laboratorians risk of exposure to a
potentially infectious material and limit
contamination of the work environment and
ultimately the community.”
• Biosafetymeans safetyfromexposure to infectiousagents.

3. HistoryOfBiosafety
History:
• On18 april 1955 the first biological safety conferrence took place at Camp
Detrick in Fredrick, Maryland in presence of fourteen representatives
from three Principal Laboratories of U.SArmy.
• Biosafety,chemical, radiological & industrial safety issueswerediscussed.
• Later in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)specified
4 different levels of biocontainment which ranges from Biosafety level 1
(BSL-1) to Biosafety level 4(BSL-4).

4. Need of biosafety
Lab has hazards of
processing
infectious agents
Accidental threat to
workers
and environment
To have adherence with
safety regulations while
dealing with highly
infectious agents

5. Scope of biosafety
Biosafety
Ecology Agriculture Medicine Exobiology Chemistry

7. Biosafety In Academic Research
• Promoting safe laboratory practices, and
procedures
• proper use of containment equipment and facilities
• provides advice on laboratory design and risk
assessment of experiments involving infectious
agents, rDNA in-vitro and in-vivo.

8. Biohazard Symbol
• Charles Baldwin at
National Cancer
Institute at NIH.
• Symbol to be
“memorable but
meaningless” so it
could be learned.

9. Biohazardous Materials
• Viruses
• Bacteria
• Fungi
• Chlamydiae/Rickettsiae
• Prions
• Recombinant DNA

10. Biohazardous Materials
• Transgenic Plants, Animals and Insects

12. Biosafety Issues
• Laboratory Safety
• Bloodborne pathogens (BBP)
• Recombinant DNA (rDNA)
• Biological waste disposal
• Infectious substance and
diagnostic specimen
shipping

13. Biosafety Issues
• Respiratory Protection
• Bioterrorism and Select agents
• Mold and indoor air quality
• Occupational safety and health
in the use of research animals
• Biohazards used in animal
models

14. Caution:biohazard

15. TypesOf BiosafetyLevels
Thereare4typesof biosafetylevelsaccordingto theriskfactorsinvolved
dependingonthenatureofpathogenbeinghandled.

16. BSL1(Basic teaching,Research)
• This level is suitable for work involving well characterized agents not known to
causediseaseto healthy adult human & It gives minimal protection to the operating
person.
• Work is done on open benches or simple cabinet without laminar air flow or with
horizontal laminar (class1) maybe used.
• Accesslimited when work inprogress.
• Basicprecaution is taken suchaswearing gloves, protective eyewear, sinkfor washing
hands,etc.
• Thelab isnot necessarilysaparated from thebuilding.
• Noeating, drinking, applying cosmetics, mouth pipetting.
• Openable windows must havescreen.
• Regulardisinfection/decontamination must be done atleast onceper day.
• example non pathogenic E.coli, salmonella spp. B. subtilis.

17. Laboratory Design

18. Useof Biological safety cabinet
Open bench work
• BSL2issameaslike BSL1but few modifications aremade
sincethis level includes risk factors more thanBSL1.
• Agentsassociatedwith humandisease.
• Effective treatment andpreventivemeasures are
available.
• Biohazardsignmust beat entrance.
• Restricted access,control of wastedisposal, protective
clothing, no food &drinking.
• Class1cabinets (horizontal laminar) are used.
• Written report for spills, accidents,medical evaluation.
• Biosafety cabinets should bedecontaminated regularly.
• First aid, medications on accidentalcasesis must.
• Exposeto mucousmembranes must beavoided.
• Commonexampleof pathogen: Hepatitis A,B,C, Herpes
simplex virus, Measelvirusetc
BSL2(Primaryhealthservices,diagnosticservice,research)

19. A standardlab
Working on influenza virus insafety
cabinet
Class 1cabinetBiohazardsign

20. • This level is applicable to clinical, diagnostic, teaching, research,
or production facilities in which work is done with
indigenous or exotic agents which may cause serious or
potentially lethal diseaseafterinhalation.
• It includes various bacteria, parasites and viruses thatcan cause
• severe to fatal disease in humans but for which treatments
exist.
• Vertical laminar flow hood with frontprotection.
• Strict accesscontrol to lab.
• Twosetsof self closingdoors.
• Protective clothing, gloves face shield mask, goggles, closed
shoes,automatic or elbow taps onsink.
• Windows closedand sealed.
• Negative pressure in labs, directional airflow & air not re-
circulated, proper decontamination of wastesbeforedisposing.
• In caseof spillage trained staff dealswithit.
• Common example of pathogens: Yersiniapestis, Mycobacterium
tuberculosis, etc
Class 2laminarhood
BSL3(Specialdiagnostic service,reasearch)

21. BSL4(Dangerous pathogenunits)
 Thislevel isrequired for work with dangerous and
exotic agentsthat poseahigh individual risk of
aerosol- transmitted laboratory infections, agents
which cause severeto fatal diseasein humansfor
which vaccinesor other treatments are notavailable.
 Lab isseparate.
 Totally enclosedsystem.
 Acompletely sealedcabinet (class3) with glove
pockets to allow manipulation ofcultures.
 Positivepressure personnelsuite.
 Life support system.
 Multiple showers at entry &exitVaccumroom, ultra
violetroom.
 Specialwaste disposal.
 Double ended autoclave through wall.
 Supervisedby qualified scientistswho are trained
and experienced in working with theseagents.
 Exampleof pathogen: Ebolavirus, Marburg virus,
Lassa fever etc.
Biohazard hood(glove box)
Positive pressure suits

22. Bsl4lab showing safety measures

23. Thank You