What are the levels of biosafety: examples and characteristics

The United States disease control and prevention center (CDC) has established four levels of biosafety with the In order to identify prevention measures within laboratories in which samples are manipulated with potentially dangerous agents. For these reasons, certain specific security standards must be met to work with them, since they can constitute a threat to the health of human beings and the environment.

Based on the degree of danger that these infectious agents represent, there are four levels of biosafety and each of them has established protection measures that increase with each level. There are primary barriers that are physical barriers and involve the use of personal protective equipment, such as gloves, masks or special costumes that prevent direct contact with the agent. On the other hand, the so -called secondary barriers are associated with the laboratory structure that transforms the work environment into a safe site against the risk of infection. For example, sinks, lavajos, special containment areas, ventilation systems, among others.

If you want to know what are the four levels of biosafety and that imply each of them, we invite you to continue reading the following sections.

In this article we explain in detail what is biosafety and examples.

At the level of biosafety 1 the agents with which the researcher works They do not imply a health riskTherefore, only standardized practices are required. These practices include:

• Handwashing.
• Care to avoid splashes.
• Disinfection of work surfaces.
• Caution when using cutting objects.
• Do not smoke, drink or ingest food within the laboratory.
• Use of Full Personal Care Team: gloves, lenses, mask, suit (always depending on the type of work done).

At the level of biosafety 2 the manipulated agents do not infect through the air, do not cause mortal infections and There is treatment with antibiotics and vaccines in front of them. However, if there is any type of splash of the material and it is inhaled, there may be Risk of infection.

In these laboratories, work with blood derivatives, other bodily fluids and tissues, so you have to have extreme caution with cutting objects, with the exposure of samples and nose (mucous membranes) and with the accidental ingestion of contaminated materials.

The level of biosafety 2 includes all standardized practices carried out in type 1 added to:

• Keep the Restricted access to the laboratory while working with some potentially dangerous sample.
• Presence of a biosafety manual.
• Presence of safety cabinets.
• Presence of supervision personnel with experience in work with infectious agents.
• Training for personnel that works with these agents.

At this level we work with agents that can be transmitted through air and reach the airways, generating severe infections and even death.

The established laboratory practices that must be carried out at this level include all level 2 practices:

• Restricted access to the laboratory.
• Specific training for staff.
• Disinfection of all the waste generated.
• Change of protective clothing laboratory and decontamination of laboratory clothing before its washing.
• Ventilation systems must ensure that air flows into the laboratory and not out.
• He income must be by double doors that are able to close alone.

You may also be interested in this article on hazardous waste: classification, examples and handling.

At this level, infectious agents are studied and manipulated that have a high risk of infection and can jeopardize life. They are transmitted by air and there is no vaccine or treatment for them.

Those who work with these agents may be at continuous risk of exposure to exposure to aerosols, exposure of mucous membranes to drops, and accidental punctures with contaminated sharp objects. Standardized practices include all those present at the Biosafety 3 level and also:

• Strictly controlled access to the laboratory
• Change of clothes before entering and leaving the laboratory.
• Decontamination of all the material used by withdrawing from the laboratory.
• The work site must be completely isolated from the rest of the building.
• Is recommended the absence of windows and in the event that these exist must be sealed to avoid the exit of an infectious agent outside.

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