Microbiology and Parasitology - MC3A

Laboratory
January 13, 2023

Safety in the Laboratory

1. Differentiate biosafety from biosecurity.

Biosafety is the use of safety practices and the use of equipment’s to prevent harm and to provide safety
for the worker, and to have a building which only for a current activity that needs to be provided in
order to protect the environment and also the community from unintentional release of infectious
agents, toxins, and biological hazards. While Biosecurity is the prevention of disease to leave or enter
places, and to prevent them from exposing harm to people, animals and food products.

2. Fill up the table on the needed information regarding the four laboratory biosafety levels.

Biosafety Levels
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4
Description -No -Containment. -High Containment -Max containment
Containment.
-Pose a -Aerosol -High risk agents, Highly
-Exposes too moderate transmission dangerous
little to no health hazard.
harm. -Serious -Life-threatening
-Disease of Potentially lethal disease.
-Unlikely to varying severity. disease.
cause Disease.

Pathogen -Agents that -Agents that are -Indigenous or -Dangerous and exotic
Type present minimal associated with exotic agents, that agents that poses a high
potential hazard. human disease present a potential risk aerosol transmitted
and pose aerosol transmission laboratory, life-
moderate causing a potentially threatening disease.
hazards. lethal disease.
Sample -Escherichia Coli -Influenza, HIV, -Tuberculosis, -Ebola Virus, Marburg
Organisms (Laboratory Lyme Disease. Anthracis. virus.
Strain).

Standard -Avoidance of -The use of PPE -The use of solid- -Personnel must change
practices splashes or front clothing before entering
aerosols. -Decontamination of wraparound and exiting the building.
 infectious materials gowns, scrub
-Regular prior to disposal with suits, and -All materials should be
Handwashing. the use of an coveralls. decontaminated before
autoclave. leaving the building.
-Biohazard signs. -Sustained
-Biohazard warning directional -Personnel must wear
signs. airflow to draw the PPE from lower BSL
air into the levels, as well as a full-
laboratory from body, air suit, positive
clean areas pressure suit.
towards a
potentially
contaminated
area.