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Research Involving Flying Insects

  • Research Safety & Services
  • Occupational Safety & Risk Management
  • Facility Support Services

    • Research involving flying insects warrants unique biocontainment and biosafety considerations in order to:

    • Prevent inadvertent release and establishment of exotic organisms
    • Avert the release of genetically-modified arthropods or harbored recombinant microorganisms
    • Mitigate the risk of personnel exposure to infectious agents

    As a consequence of the diverse nature of arthropod research, both the Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories as well as the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules do not clearly designate laboratory containment criteria. To address this gap, as devised largely in accordance with the American Committee of Medical Entomology Arthropod Containment Guidelines, UF has established the following arthropod containment standards applicable to research involving flying insects. It is important to note that the considerations detailed herein are not exhaustive – additional containment features and laboratory practices may be imposed by the EH&S Biological Safety Office, dictated in federal/state permits, or stipulated in affiliated EH&S/IBC Biohazard Project Registration approval(s).

     

    Arthropod Containment Levels
    Containment Setting ACL-1 ACL-1+ ACL-2 ACL-3
    Infection Status RG-1/BSL-1 agents RG-1/BSL-1 agents up to* RG-2/BSL-2 agents up to* RG-3/BSL-3 agents
    Arthropod Status Indigenous,

    wild-type

    		 Indigenous,  transgenic** Indigenous, transgenic**, or exotic*** Indigenous, transgenic**, or exotic***

    * Experiments involving organisms that can be performed at a lower containment setting must be performed in accordance with overarching containment considerations.

    ** Per IBC approval.

    Secondary (Facility) Barriers & Features

     

    Containment Setting ACL-1 ACL-1+ ACL-2 ACL-3
    Location If possible, separated from general traffic If possible, separated from general traffic Separated from unrestricted general traffic Strictly separated to restricted access areas
    Doors Door openings must minimize escape Door openings must minimize escape Entrance is preceded by double-door vestibule. Doors are interlocked by physical or procedural means. Entrance is minimally preceded by double-door vestibule. Doors are self-closing and, if applicable, self-locking.
    HVAC Per laboratory design standards. No special precautions apply. Per laboratory design standards. No special precautions apply. Tailored to maintain observable inward (negative) directional airflow. Single-pass airflow. Tailored to maintain inward (negative) directional airflow which achieves either -0.2”w.g. or 100 CFM offset. Single-pass air and exhaust must be HEPA filtered. HEPA banks must be leak-tested annually.
    HVAC Ports Per laboratory design standards. No special precautions apply. HVAC must be screened**** to prevent inadvertent release. HVAC must be screened**** to prevent inadvertent release. HVAC must be screened**** to prevent inadvertent release.
    Drains Per laboratory design standards. Drains must be screened.**** Drains must be screened.****

    Floor drain traps must be charged with disinfectant.

    		 Drains must be screened.****

    Floor drains are typically not recommended.
    Interior Surfaces (benchtops, walls, floors, etc.) Per laboratory design standards. Light colored (white) to detect any escapees. Minimize opportunities for harborage. Light colored (white) to detect any escapees. Fluid-impervious. Minimize opportunities for harborage. Light colored (white) to detect any escapees. Fluid-impervious. Minimize opportunities for harborage.
    Ceiling Per laboratory design standards. Contiguous or fully intact drop tile ceiling. Contiguous or sealed, affixed (either locked or adhered) drop tile ceiling. Contiguous.
    Plumbing/Electrical Per laboratory design standards. Per laboratory design standards. Minimize internal facility appurtenances (light fixtures, pipes, etc.). Per laboratory design standards. Minimize internal facility appurtenances (light fixtures, pipes, etc.). All penetrations must be sealed. Per laboratory design standards. Minimize internal facility appurtenances (light fixtures, pipes, etc.). All penetrations must be sealed.
    Vacuum Systems Per laboratory design standards. Per laboratory design standards. Must be protected by hydrophobic filters. Must be protected by hydrophobic filters.
    Sterilization Equipment Per laboratory design standards. Autoclave may be available in the facility. Autoclave may be available in the facility. Per FDOH regulations and UF policy, inactivation of pathogens infectious to humans warrants BI testing within every 40 hours of operation. Regular PM and calibration may be required per federal/state permit stipulations. Pass-through autoclave within the suite is optimal. Deviation will warrant approval via risk assessment. Per FDOH regulations and UF policy, inactivation of pathogens infectious to humans warrants BI testing within every 40 hours of operation. Regular PM and calibration is required.
    Windows Per laboratory design standards. If present, must be screened.*** Not recommended. If present, must be sealed shut and resistant to breakage. Not recommended. If present, must be sealed shut and resistant to breakage.
    Handwashing Sink Per laboratory design standards. Per laboratory design standards. Must be present in the lab. Hands-free handwashing sink must be present.
    Illumination Per laboratory design standards and appropriate for arthropod maintenance. Per laboratory design standards and appropriate for arthropod maintenance. Per laboratory design standards and appropriate for arthropod maintenance. Avoid contrasting openings which may inadvertently attract escapees. Per laboratory design standards and appropriate for arthropod maintenance. Avoid contrasting openings which may inadvertently attract escapees.
    Additional Physical Barriers Not required. Not required. Additional barriers (such as hanging curtains, blowers, or additional room partitions) may be implemented to reduce risks of exposure or release. Additional barriers (such as hanging curtains, blowers, or additional room partitions) may be implemented to reduce risks of exposure or release.

    *** Containment setting for exotic species will depend upon FDACS permit approval. Additionally, the infection of exotic arthropod vectors with infectious agents may warrant heightened containment considerations.

    **** Mesh size must be suitable to contain the insects used in the facility (minimum of 52 mesh is stipulated for certain regulated experiments in the NIH Guidelines).

    Primary (Equipment) Barriers
    Containment Setting ACL-1 ACL-1+ ACL-2 ACL-3
    PPE As needed, per institutional policy. As needed, per institutional policy and in accordance with EH&S/IBC approvals. Minimal PPE:

    White, hooded coverall (preferred)

    or white lab coat/gown. Single pair of disposable gloves. Per EH&S/IBC approval, additional PPE may be required.

    		 Minimal PPE:

    White, hooded coverall.

    Double pair of disposable gloves (contrasting color; inner pair taped to gown sleeves). Shoe covers. Respiratory protection consisting of either a PAPR or fit tested N95 (per EH&S/IBC approval). Note: Per EH&S/IBC facility-dedicated apparel and additional PPE may be required.
    Biosafety Cabinet Not required. Not required. Required, with annual certification. Required, with annual certification.
    Arthropod Tubes/Cups/Caging Species-appropriate containers Escape-proof containers. Escape-proof containers. May require secondary containment. Escape-proof containers. Secondary containment is required.
    Glovebox (static / dead air) Not required. Recommended. Required for the manipulation of viable infected insects. Required for the manipulation of viable infected insects. Note: If agent aerosolization is performed, the static air glovebox must be substituted with a Class III BSC.
    Environmental Growth Chambers Not required. Recommended. Required for housing infected insects. It is recommended that infected and non-infected insects are maintained in separate growth chambers. Required for housing infected insects. Infected and non-infected insects must be maintained in separate growth chambers; otherwise, deviations must be addressed in SOPs.
    Aspirators Mouth aspiration is discouraged in research settings. Mechanical aspirators are recommended. Mouth aspiration is discouraged in research settings. Mechanical aspirators are recommended. Mechanical aspirators are required. Exceptions require EH&S/IBC approval. The use of mechanical aspirators is strictly required.
    Additional Precautions
    Containment Setting ACL-1 ACL-1+ ACL-2 ACL-3
    EH&S/IBC Biohazard Project Registration N/A Required for experiments regulated under the NIH Guidelines. Required for experiments regulated under the NIH Guidelines, studies involving pathogens infectious to humans, as well as studies affiliated with federal/state permits pertaining to arthropod vectors or pathogens. Required for experiments regulated under the NIH Guidelines, studies involving pathogens infectious to humans, as well as studies affiliated with federal/state permits pertaining to arthropod vectors or pathogens.
    Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) SOPs must be developed to mitigate the risk of inadvertent release. SOPs must be developed to mitigate the risk of inadvertent release. SOPs must be developed to mitigate the risk of inadvertent release and incidental exposure. SOPs, as reviewed and approved by EH&S, must be developed to mitigate the risk of inadvertent release and incidental exposure.
    Escaped Arthropod Monitoring Effective arthropod trapping program is recommended. Effective arthropod trapping program is recommended. Effective arthropod trapping program is required. Effective arthropod trapping program is required.
    Container Identification and Labeling General descriptive labels. General descriptive labels. It is recommended that the number of contained arthropods are denoted. Descriptive labels that must minimally indicate the insect species, number of contained arthropods, responsible individual, and infectious agent(s). Descriptive labels that must minimally indicate the insect species, number of contained arthropods, responsible individual, and infectious agent(s).
    Medical Surveillance Per institutional standards. Per institutional standards. Per institutional standards. Personnel must be enrolled in the UF medical monitoring program.
    Reportable Events Report spills and incidental releases to the PI. Immediately report environmental release of transgenics or exposure events involving recombinant/synthetic nucleic acid molecules to the UF EH&S Biosafety Office: bso@ehs.ufl.edu

    352-392-1591)

    		 Immediately report environmental release of transgenics and exposure event involving recombinant/synthetic nucleic acid molecules or infectious agents to the Biosafety Office: bso@ehs.ufl.edu

    352-392-1591)

    		 Immediately report environmental release of transgenics and exposure event involving recombinant/synthetic nucleic acid molecules or infectious agents to the Biosafety Office: bso@ehs.ufl.edu

    352-392-1591)
    Additional Resources

     

    University of Florida
    Gainesville, FL 32611
    (352) 392-3261

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