Here are some brief point I have taken from presentation of my colleague (presented during his SRFship) Pushpendra Singh Chahar, Post Doctoral Fellow, Prof Stewart Cole Laboratory (UPCOL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
In the previous, it has indicated that Biosafety materials have classified as per their hazardous nature. Now it is mandatory to know about various Biosafety levels used for laboratory for their study.
On the basis of agents hazardous each group of agent needed several preventive infrastructures (for keeping them controlled and limited) in laboratory. These have been divided in four levels.
On the basis of agents hazardous each group of agent needed several preventive infrastructures (for keeping them controlled and limited) in laboratory. These have been divided in four levels.
- BSL1- Biosafety level 1 is used for RG1 agents. RG1 have several protozoans, fungus, harmless bacteria and some harmless viruses. It require basic laboratory equipment needed for experiment, open bench top, cleaning reagents for hands & bench and a sink. There is nothing special laboratory infrastructure require.
- BSL2- Biosafety level 2 is used for RG2 agents. RG2 are disease causing protozoans, fungus, bacteria and viruses. This level required for a very large group of organism for their study which have proper prevention and therapy. In comparison to BSL1 it require restricted entry in lab. The lab must have a sign board for this and waste generated in such laboratory must be destroyed properly. There should be a booklet regarding this having written rules and information of people to be contacted during accident. First aid box is compulsory. The laboratory workers must have separate clothes for lab. Autoclave instrument also must be there. The worker must be use gloves, mask, appron etc during experiment. The experiments needs Biosafety cabinet for studying the material.
- BSL3- BSL3 used for RG3 agents which cause serious and lethal disease but do not have community risks. In addition to BSL2 level it include controlled access, with total destruction of waste and unidirectional air flow. The laboratory constructed for this should have negative air flow and double door with automatic closing system.
- BSL4- made for RG4 agents which cause serious lethal illness to humans as well as community. generally viruses studied. As caused diseases do not have any preventive or therapeutic interventions. BSL4 level laboratory must be equiped with BSL3 facilities as well as following. the workers should change clothes before comes out and take shower before complete exit. And total material must be destroyed properly. The worker needs a suit which can cover whole body and can create positive air pressure . there must be 24x7 electric supply and exhaust system should always work properly.
Note : Dear friends in case of Swine flu (H1N1 virus) I am hearing about one more level i.e. BSL5
If you know something about that please mention.
To be continued.....
If you know something about that please mention.
