Bio Safety Levels

Biosafety
• Techniques & equipment used to prevent personal ,laboratory and
environmental exposure to potentially infectious agents e.g.
pathogenic microorganisms, body fluids, tissues etc.

• Containment conditions under which infectious agents can be safely

manipulated
 Biosafety Level(BSL)
• Bio containment precautions required to isolate dangerous biological
agents in an enclosed laboratory facility.

• These precautions & practices are organized into biosafety levels

based on the risks associated with the biological agents being used &
the work being done in the lab.

• The levels of containments range from the lowest biosafety level

1(BSL-1) to the highest at level 4(BSL-4).
 Biosafety Level -1
(Non-Pathogenic)
• Microbes are not known to cause disease in healthy hosts

• Minimal risks to workers and the environment

• e.g. Non pathogenic strains of E.coli,Bacillus subtilis

 BSL-1 Practices
• Lowest level of precaution, standard microbiological practices are
used
• Hand washing
• Doors are kept closed when working
• No smoking, Eating, Drinking, Storage of food in labs
• Care to minimize splashes & actions that may create aerosols
• Decontamination of work surfaces after every use
 Biosafety Level -2
(Pathogenic)
• Microbes are typically indigenous and are associated with diseases of
varying severity.

• Moderate risks to workers & environment

• e.g. Staph.aureous,HIV etc.

 BSL-2 Practices
• Standard laboratory practices plus Biosafety cabinet (BSC) for
potential aerosols
• Protective Clothing
• Eye wash stations
• Lockable doors & more controlled facility
• Autoclave or other methods of decontaminations
• Face shield are necessary
 Biosafety Level -3
(Fatal)
• Microbes are indigenous or exotic

• Causes serious or potentially lethal diseases through respiratory

transmission

• e.g. Mycobacterium tuberculosis,Yellow fever virus etc.

 BSL-3 Practices
• Standard laboratory practices for BSL-1 & BSL-2
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) & BSC Class ii
• Respiratory protection is required
• Set of 2-separate self closing doors,
• Control of contaminated waste ,equipment & lab.clothing
 Biosafety Level -4
(No-Cureability)
• Microbes are dangerous and exotic

• High risk of aerosol-transmitted infections which frequently fatal

without treatment or vaccines

• E.g. Ebola & Marburg viruses

• Few labs are at this level

 BSL-4 Practices
• Highest level of precautions
• Standard laboratory practices for BSL-1 , BSL-2 & BSL-3
• An air-lock entrance
• Class iii BSC & Positive Pressure Suits
• Complete clothing change before entering the lab. & a decontamination
shower before exiting
• Decontamination of all materials before leaving the facility/special waste
disposal
• Strictly controlled access & record of all persons entering and exiting the
facility
 Concluding Remarks

• Protect yourself ,laboratory as well as environment from the

Biohazards (Pathogenic organisms, body fluids,tisses etc.) during your
work , according to SOPs of International Organizations