| 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
Handwashing 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
Handwashing 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 |
