Biosafety Definition and Types | Biotechnology

In this article, we will discuss about:- What is Biosafety? and 2. Biosafety Levels (BSL)

1. What is Biosafety?

The definition of biosafety can be described as: “Application of safety principles to laboratory practices in which potentially hazardous materials or organism are manipulated or handled.”

Biosafety regulatory principles and protocols regulates the potential risk and allow access to the benefits of rDNA technology. Risk assessment and risk management are two important component of biosafety.

2. Biosafety Levels (BSL):

All the facilities handling microorganisms and materials containing recombinant DNA molecules have risk assessment program. Depending on the risk possessed by the samples, four biosafety levels have been assigned to rDNA research facilities. Each BSL facility has requirement of unique design features and safety equipments.

i) Biosafety level-I (BSL-I):

• Agents: Characterized strains of microorganisms known to cause no disease in healthy adults. eg. E. coli, S. cerevesiae, B. subtilis etc. 
• Recombinant DNA based research activities involving non-pathogenic micro-organisms for expression of genes using plasmid vectors or low risk viral vectors. 
• Work practice: Standard aseptic microbiological techniques. 
• Safety equipment requirement: Lab coats and eye protection recommended. 
• Facilities: Bench top, sink etc.

ii) Biosafety level-II (BSL-II):

• Agents: Handling of micro-organisms which possess moderate hazard to personal and environment.
• rDNA based research activities in micro-organisms using non-viral or viral vectors.
• Work practice: Standard BSL-I practices with addition of limited access, biohazard sign, defined procedure for disposal of “Regulated Medical Waste”, proper training to lab personal and medical surveillance.
• Safety equipment: Class-II biological safety cabinet, lab coats, gloves, eye/face protection, physical containment equipment to reduce infectious aerosol exposure or splashes.
• Facility: BSL-I facility with addition of autoclave, decontamination facility and proper airflow.

iii) Biosafety level-III (BSL-III):

• Agents: Handling of micro-organisms which are designated as hazardous or potentially lethal agents to personal and environment.
• Laboratory personnel must have specific training in handling infectious micro-organisms and should be supervised by scientist competent in handling infectious agents.
• Work practices: BSL-2 practices, with the addition of: controlled access, on-site decontamination of all waste and lab clothing and medical surveillance.
• Safety equipment: Class-III biological safety cabinet, lab coats, gloves, eye/face protection, respiratory protection, physical containment equipment to reduce infectious aerosol exposure or splashes.
• Facility: BSL-III facility has specific criteria to meet. Lab should have double door entry with physical separation of working area from the access corridors, directional airflow in lab, and no recirculation of exhaust air in the lab, sufficient decontamination facility, in lab autoclave etc.

iv) Biosafety level-IV (BSL-IV):

• Agents: Hazardous and potentially lethal organisms that posses high individual risk of laboratory transmitted disease for which there is no vaccine or treatment, or a related agent with unknown risk of transmission.
• Laboratory personnel must have specialized training in handling BSL-IV agents and should be supervised by scientist competent in handling infectious agents.
• Safety equipment: Class-IV biological safety cabinet, lab coats, gloves, eye/face protection, respiratory protection, physical and containment equipment to reduce infectious aerosol exposure or splashes.
• Facility: BSL-IV facility requires specialized design to minimize the exposure to risk and only the authorized entry should be permitted in laboratory area in BSL-IV labs.