Are human cell lines BSL-2?

All unfixed human tissue and cells are to be assumed to be infectious (the concept of “Universal Precautions”) and must be handled using Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) practices and procedures.

Who or what does a Level 2 biosafety?

BSL–2. This biosafety level covers laboratories that work with agents associated with human diseases (i.e. pathogenic or infections organisms) that pose a moderate health hazard.

What is a Biosafety Level 1?

Biosafety Levels Biosafety Level 1 (BSL-1) BSL-1 labs are used to study infectious agents or toxins not known to consistently cause disease in healthy adults. They follow basic safety procedures, called Standard Microbiological Practices and require no special equipment or design features.

What is a Level 3 laboratory?

Biosafety Level 3 (BSL3) laboratories involve research using agents that are associated with serious or lethal human disease for which preventative or therapeutic treatments may be available.

What is a BSL-3 lab?

Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) BSL-3 laboratories are used to study infectious agents or toxins that may be transmitted through the air and cause potentially lethal infections. Researchers perform all experiments in a biosafety cabinet. BSL-3 laboratories are designed to be easily decontaminated.

What is BSL-2 enhanced?

Biosafety Level-2 enhanced is the designation utilized for those biohazard experiments that require practices that are more stringent than standard BSL-2 procedures. Generally, Biosafety Level-3 practices are mandated in a space designed for BSL-2 work.

What is a Biosafety Level 4 lab?

Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) BSL-4 laboratories are used to study infectious agents or toxins that pose a high risk of aerosol-transmitted laboratory infections and life-threatening disease for which no vaccines or therapies are available.

What is a biosafety level?

Each laboratory space where biohazardous materials are used is assigned one of 3 internationally recognized biosafety levels or BSL. The biosafety level is commensurate with the: The IBC uses the biosafety levels recommended by the CDC and NIH as the usual standards of containment to be set for work with a given biohazardous material.

What are the biosafety levels for recombinant DNA?

The descriptions of biosafety levels (BSL) 1 – 4 parallel those in the NIH Guidelines for research involving recombinant DNA. The BSL categories are divided up by risk of disease combined with availability of preventive and therapeutic treatments.

Where can I find information about associated RG and biosafety levels (BSL)?

Microorganisms and their associate RG designation commonly used at UVA can be found at the ABSA website. In contrast to Risk Groups, Biosafety Levels (BSL) prescribe procedures and levels of containment for the particular microorganism or material (including Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules).

What is the difference between risk groups and biosafety levels?

In contrast to Risk Groups, Biosafety Levels (BSL) prescribe procedures and levels of containment for the particular microorganism or material (including Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules). Similar to Risk Groups, BSL are graded from 1 – 4.