| BSL |
Agents |
Practices |
Safety Equipment (Primary Barriers) |
Facilities (Secondary Barriers) |
| 1 |
Not
known to consistently cause disease in healthy human adults. |
Standard
animal care and management practices, including appropriate medical
surveillance programs |
As
required for normal care of each species. |
Standard
animal facility
No recirculation
of exhaust air
Directional air
flow recommended
Hand washing
sink
recommended
|
| 2 |
Associated
with human disease. Hazard: percutaneous exposure, ingestion, mucous
membrane exposure. |
ABSL-1
practices plus:
Limited access
Biohazard
warning signs
Sharps
precautions
Biosafety manual
Decontamination
of all infectious wastes and of animal cages prior to washing
|
ABSL-1
equipment plus primary barriers: containment equipment appropriate for
animal species; PPES: laboratory coats, gloves, face and respiratory
protection as needed. |
ABSL-1
facility plus:
Autoclave
available
Hand washing
sink
available in the animal room.
Mechanical cage
washer used
|
| 3 |
Indigenous
or exotic agents with potential for aerosol transmission; disease may
have serious health effects. |
ABSL-2
practices plus:
Controlled
access
Decontamination
of clothing before laundering
Cages
decontaminated before bedding removed
Disinfectant
foot bath as needed
|
ABSL-2
equipment plus:
Containment
equipment for housing animals and cage dumping activities
Class I or II
BSCs available for manipulative procedures (inoculation, necropsy) that
may create infectious aerosols. PPEs: appropriate respiratory
protection
|
ABSL-2
facility plus:
Physical
separation from access corridors
Self-closing,
double-door access
Sealed
penetrations
Sealed windows
Autoclave
available in facility
|
| 4 |
Dangerous/exotic
agents that pose high risk of life threatening disease; aerosol
transmission, or related agents with unknown risk of transmission. |
ABSL-3
practices plus:
Entrance through
change room where personal clothing is removed and laboratory clothing
is put on; shower on exiting
All wastes are
decontaminated before removal from the facility
|
ABSL-3
equipment plus:
Maximum
containment equipment (i.e., Class III BSC or partial containment
equipment in combination with full body, air-supplied positive-pressure
personnel suit) used for all procedures and activities
|
ABSL-3
facility plus:
Separate
building or isolated zone
Dedicated supply
and exhaust, vacuum and decontamination systems
Other
requirements outlined in the text
|
