Animal Biological Safety Levels
ABSL | Agents | Practices | Safety Equipment (Primary Barriers) |
Facilities (Secondary Barriers) |
1 | Not known to consistently cause disease in healthy 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 waste and of animal cages prior to washing |
ABSL-1 equipment plus primary barriers: • containment equipment appropriate for animal species; • PPE: 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 consequences | 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. • PPE: 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 |
UF does not have any ABSL-4 spaces | ||||
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 facility |
ABSL-3 equipment plus: Maximum containment equipment (i.e. Class III BSCs 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 decon systems • Other requirements outlined in the BMBL text |
References:
- ABSL Table. (2016, April 12). Retrieved September 26, 2016, from University of Missouri EH&S: https://ehs.missouri.edu/bio/absltable.html
- Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) 5th Edition. (2015, March 13). Retrieved September 26, 26, from CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/biosafety/publications/bmbl5/index.htm