Policy Guideline on Laboratory Biosafety and Biosecurity

BIOSECURITY POLICY
 Only authorized persons should be allowed to enter the laboratory working areas.
Laboratory doors should be kept closed at all times.
 Laboratory Reagents and Supplies
 Reagents and supplies should be stored properly according to its temperature
requirements with corresponding level of access control and inventory management.
Material Safety Data Sheet or other chemical hazard information should be available and
accessible in the laboratory work area as reference for safety manual.
 Laboratory Waste Disposal
 Sharps must be handled carefully and disposed safely. Potentially infectious materials
must be stored in a secure location and locked with access only by designated staff.
Decontaminate all potentially contaminated areas and materials using appropriate
methods/disinfectants before disposal.

BIOSAFETY POLICY & GUIDELINES

 All samples should be treated as infectious.
 Each laboratory should conduct a local risk assessment to ensure it is competent to safely
perform the intended testing with appropriate risk control measures in place. When
handling and processing specimens, laboratory practices and procedures that are basic to
good microbiological practices and procedures should be followed.
 Non-propagative diagnostic laboratory work, on clinical specimens from patients who are
suspected or confirmed to be infected with COVID-19, should be conducted adopting the
practices and procedures of core requirements, and an appropriate selection of heightened
control measures, informed by the local risk assessment. Handling of material with high
concentrations of virus and large volumes of infectious materials should be performed
only by properly trained and competent personnel in the laboratory.
 All technical procedures should be performed in a way that minimizes the generation of
aerosols and droplets. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), as determined
by a detailed risk assessment, should be worn by all laboratory personnel handling these
specimens.