Personnel who work in biological laboratories may handle infectious agents in addition to other hazards such as chemicals and radioactive materials. Over the years, there have been many documented cases of lab personnel acquiring diseases due to their work with infectious agents. Only approximately 20% of these cases have been attributed to a specific incident, with the rest assumed to be related to work practices in the lab, primarily the creation of aerosols. Whenever work with infectious agents is performed, all appropriate steps must be taken to protect personnel and the environment.

1. Recommended Laboratory Practices

There are basically four routes of exposure or four ways in which a person can come in contact with infectious agents. These routes are contact with the skin or mucus membranes, ingestion, inhalation, and inoculation. Each of these routes of exposure is discussed below.

Contact with skin or mucus membranes:

Spilled material can come into direct contact with the skin as can droplets produced by pipetting, removal of screw caps, and vortex mixing of unsealed tubes.

1. The control of a contact exposure is accomplished through the wearing of appropriate protective clothing such as a face shield, gloves, safety glasses, a mask, and laboratory coats. Other ways to control contact exposure include using absorbent paper on the work bench, performing all procedures carefully, and frequently wiping work surfaces with a disinfectant.

2. Keep all non-essential items away from the area where work is being performed to protect personal items from contamination. All contaminated wastes must be handled and stored properly to prevent contact exposure of lab personnel as well as housekeeping staff and waste handlers.

Ingestion:

Ingestion may occur either directly or indirectly. Exposure may occur from mouth pipetting or splashing from a container into the mouth or by contaminating the hands and then touching the mouth or items such as a coffee cup, food, or lip balm, that go into the mouth.

The control of an ingestion exposure is accomplished through the use of mechanical pipetting devices whenever pipetting and by practicing good personal hygiene, such as washing hands frequently throughout the day and not eating or drinking in the work area. Food items also cannot be stored in refrigerators that contain hazardous materials or in the lab where work with infectious agents is being performed.

Inhalation:

It is generally known that aerosols are the primary means by which infectious diseases are spread and contracted. An aerosol can be either a liquid or a dry particle. An aerosol with a diameter of five microns or less can easily be inhaled and carried to the alveoli of the lungs. These aerosols can remain airborne for a long period of time and can spread wide distances, especially after entering the ventilation system. Particles with a diameter larger than five microns tend to settle rapidly and can contaminate the skin or other surfaces.

There are many commonly performed procedures in the lab that can create aerosols. Examples include centrifuging, heating inoculating loops, using a blender, blowing out the last drop in a pipette, and changing animal bedding.

The control of inhalation exposure is accomplished by a combination of using the appropriate safety equipment such as biological safety cabinets and by performing procedures carefully to minimize the creation of aerosols. Refer to the following Section 3 of this chapter for additional information regarding Laboratory Equipment.

Inoculation:

Inoculation in a lab usually occurs with a needle and syringe. Exercise extreme caution whenever using a needle. Restrict needle use; whenever an alternative to a needle is possible, it should be used. Inoculation can also occur through animal bites and other sharps such as Pasteur pipettes and razor blades.

The control of an inoculation hazard is accomplished by the safe use, handling, and storage of needles and other sharps. After using a needle, do not recap, bend, break, remove it from the syringe, or manipulate it in any way. Many people have been accidentally stuck with a needle during the process of recapping it. The needle and other sharps should simply be placed into a sharps container to prevent any injuries. Call the EH&S Hazardous Materials Division at 471-3511 for sharps containers.

2. Biosafety Levels

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have developed standard procedures providing protection against biological hazards. The publication Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories provides specific descriptions of combinations of microbiological practices, laboratory facilities, and safety equipment, and recommends their use in four biosafety levels of operation with infectious agents. These biosafety levels are described below.

The biosafety levels described in the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving rDNA Molecules are based on and consistent with the biosafety levels presented here. A biosafety level (BSL) is based on the potential hazard of the agent and the functions of the lab. BSL1 is for work with agents that pose the least hazard and BSL4 is for work with agents that pose the greatest hazard. Only BSL1 through 3 are included here because there are not any BSL4 labs at The University. Included are examples of organisms which fall within a particular biosafety level. Keep in mind that the biosafety level used for a particular organism may change based on the procedures being performed and the amount of cultures involved.

All work with microbiological agents should follow the CDC/NIH guidelines for the appropriate BioSafety Level. At a minimum, research and instructional labs conducting work with microbiological agents should follow the guidelines for BioSafety Level 1 (BSL1). If you are uncertain concerning which biosafety level your work should be considered, call the EH&S Chemical and Laboratory Safety Division at 471-3511 for assistance. (Revised information 5/12/97)

Biosafety Level 1

BSL1 is suitable for work involving well-characterized agents not known to cause disease in healthy adult humans, and of minimal potential hazard to laboratory personnel and the environment.

Examples of BSL1 Agents:

Bacillus subtilus

Naegleria gruberi

Infectious Canine Hepatitis Virus

The laboratory is not necessarily separated from the general traffic patterns in the building. Work is generally conducted on open bench tops using standard microbiological practices. Special containment equipment or facility design is not required nor generally used. Laboratory personnel have specific training in the procedures conducted in the laboratory and are supervised by a scientist with general training in microbiology or a related science. The following standard and special practices, safety equipment, and facilities apply to agents assigned to BSL1:

Standard Microbiological Practices (BSL1)

1. Access to the laboratory is limited or restricted at the discretion of the laboratory director when experiments or work with cultures and specimens is in progress.

2. Persons wash their hands after they handle viable materials and animals, after removing gloves, and before leaving the laboratory.

3. Eating, drinking, handling contact lenses, and applying cosmetics are not permitted in work areas where there is reasonable likelihood of exposure to potentially infectious materials. Persons who wear contact lenses in laboratories should also wear goggles or a face shield. Food is stored outside the work area in cabinets or refrigerators labeled and used for this purpose only.

4. Mouth pipetting is prohibited; mechanical pipetting devices are used.

5. All procedures are performed carefully to minimize the creation of splashes or aerosols.

6. Work surfaces are decontaminated at least once a day and after any spill of viable material.

7. All cultures, stocks, and other regulated wastes are decontaminated before disposal by an approved decontamination method, such as autoclaving. Materials to be decontaminated outside of the immediate laboratory are to be placed in a durable, leak-proof container and closed for transport from the laboratory. Materials to be decontaminated off-site from the laboratory are packaged in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal regulations before removal from the facility. This will be accomplished by using the containers provided by EH&S.

8. An insect and rodent control program is in effect.

Special Practices (BSL1):

None.

Safety Equipment (Primary Barriers) (BSL1):

1. Special containment devices or equipment such as a biological safety cabinet are generally not required for manipulations of agents assigned to BSL1.

2. It is recommended that laboratory coats, gowns, or uniforms be worn to prevent contamination or soiling of street clothes.

3. Gloves should be worn if the skin on the hands is broken or if a rash exists.

4. Protective eyewear should be worn for anticipated splashes of microorganisms or other hazardous materials to the face.

Laboratory Facilities (Secondary Barriers) (BSL1):

1. Each laboratory contains a sink for handwashing.

2. The laboratory is designed so that it can be easily cleaned. Rugs in laboratories are not appropriate and should not be used because proper decontamination following a spill is extremely difficult to achieve.

3. Bench tops are impervious to water and resistant to acids, alkalis, organic solvents, and moderate heat.

4. Laboratory furniture is sturdy. Spaces between benches, cabinets, and equipment are accessible for cleaning.

5. If the laboratory has windows that open, they are fitted with fly-proof screens.

Biosafety Level 2

BSL2 is similar to Level 1 and is suitable for work involving agents of moderate potential hazard to personnel and the environment.

Examples of BSL2 Agents:

Bordetella pertussis Cryptococcus neoformans

Clostridium tetani Mycobacterium leprae

Shigella spp. Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Human blood

It differs in that (1) laboratory personnel have specific training in handling pathogenic agents and are directed by scientists, (2) access to the laboratory is limited when work is being conducted, (3) extreme precautions are taken with contaminated sharp items, and (4) certain procedures in which infectious aerosols or splashes may be created are conducted in biological safety cabinets or other physical containment equipment. In addition to all the requirements for BSL1, work at BSL2 requires:

Special Practices (BSL2):

1. Access to the laboratory is limited or restricted by the laboratory director when work with infectious agents is in progress. In general, persons who are at increased risk of acquiring infection or for whom infection may be unusually hazardous are not allowed in the laboratory or animal rooms. For example, persons who are immunocompromised or immunosuppressed may be at risk of acquiring infections. The laboratory director has final responsibility for assessing each circumstance and determining who may enter or work in the laboratory.

2. The laboratory director establishes policies and procedures whereby only persons who have been advised of the potential hazard and meet specific entry requirements (e.g., immunization) enter the laboratory or animal rooms.

3. When the infectious agent(s) in use in the laboratory require special provisions for entry (e.g., immunization), a hazard warning sign incorporating the universal biohazard symbol is posted on the access door to the laboratory work area. The hazard warning sign identifies the infectious agent, lists the name and telephone number of the laboratory director or other responsible person(s), and indicates the special requirement(s) for entering the laboratory.

4. Laboratory personnel receive appropriate immunizations or tests for the agents handled or potentially present in the laboratory (e.g., hepatitis B vaccine or TB skin testing).

5. When appropriate, baseline serum samples for laboratory and other at-risk personnel are collected and stored. Additional serum specimens may be collected periodically, depending on the agents handled or the function of the facility.

6. A site-specific biosafety manual is prepared or adopted in addition to this Laboratory Safety manual. Personnel are advised of special hazards and are required to read and follow instructions on practices and procedures.

7. Laboratory personnel receive appropriate training on the potential hazards associated with the work involved, the necessary precautions to prevent exposures, and the exposure evaluation procedures. Personnel receive annual updates, or additional training as necessary for procedural or policy changes.

8. A high degree of precaution must always be taken with any contaminated sharp item, including needles and syringes, slides, pipettes, capillary tubes, and scalpels. Needles and syringes or other sharp instruments should be restricted for use only when there is no alternative, such as parenteral injection, phlebotomy, or aspiration of fluids from laboratory animals and diaphragm bottles. Plasticware should be substituted for glassware whenever possible.

a. Only needle-locking syringes or disposable syringe-needle units (i.e., needle is integral to the syringe) are used for the injection or aspiration of infectious materials. Used disposable needles must not be bent, sheared, broken, recapped, removed from disposable syringes, or otherwise manipulated by hand before disposal; rather, they must be carefully placed in conveniently located puncture-resistant containers used for sharps disposal.

These sharps containers are provided and removed by EH&S. Non-disposable sharps must be placed in a hard-walled container for transport to a processing area for decontamination, preferably by autoclaving.

b. Syringes that resheathe the needle, needle-less systems, and other safe devices should be used when appropriate.

c. Broken glassware must not be handled directly by hand, but must be removed by mechanical means such as a brush and dustpan, tongs, or forceps.

9. Cultures, tissues, or specimens of body fluids are placed in a container that prevents leakage during collection, handling, processing, storage, transport, or shipping.

10. Laboratory equipment and work surfaces should be decontaminated with an appropriate disinfectant on a routine basis, after work with infectious materials is finished, and especially after overt spills, splashes, or other contamination by infectious materials. Contaminated equipment must be decontaminated according to any local, state, or federal regulations before it is sent for repair or maintenance or packaged for transport in accordance with applicable local, state, or federal regulations, before removal from the facility.

11. Spills and accidents which result in overt exposures to infectious materials are immediately reported to the laboratory director. Medical evaluation, surveillance, and treatment are provided as appropriate and written records are maintained (see Medical Program, Chapter C.4 of this manual).

12. Animals not involved in work being performed are not permitted in the laboratory.

Safety Equipment (Primary Barriers) (BSL2):

1. Properly maintained biological safety cabinets, preferably Class II, or other appropriate personal protective equipment or physical containment devices are used whenever:

a. Procedures with a potential for creating infectious aerosols or splashes are conducted. These include centrifuging, grinding, blending, vigorous shaking or mixing, sonic disruption, opening containers of infectious materials whose internal pressures may be different from ambient pressures, inoculating animals intranasally, and harvesting infected tissues from animals or eggs.

b. High concentrations or large volumes of infectious agents are used. Such materials may be centrifuged in the open laboratory if sealed rotor heads or centrifuge safety cups are used, and if these rotors or safety cups are opened only in a biological safety cabinet.

2. Face protection (goggles, mask, face shield, or other splatter guards) is used for anticipated splashes or sprays of infectious or other hazardous materials to the face, when the microorganisms must be manipulated outside the BSC.

3. Protective laboratory coats, gowns, smocks, or uniforms designated for lab use are worn while in the laboratory. This protective clothing is removed and left in the laboratory before leaving for non-laboratory areas (e.g., cafeteria, library, administrative offices). All protective clothing is either disposed of in the laboratory or laundered by the institution; it should never be taken home by personnel.

4. Gloves are worn when handling infected animals and when hands may contact infectious materials, contaminated surfaces, or equipment. Wearing two pairs of gloves may be appropriate; if a spill or splatter occurs, the hand will be protected after the contaminated glove is removed. Gloves are disposed of when contaminated, removed when work with infectious materials is completed, and are not worn outside the laboratory. Disposable gloves are not washed or reused.

Laboratory Facilities (Secondary Barriers) (BSL2):

1. A method for decontamination of infectious or regulated laboratory wastes is available (e.g., autoclave, chemical disinfection, incinerator, or other approved decontamination system).

2. An eyewash facility is readily available.

Biosafety Level 3

BSL3 is applicable to clinical, diagnostic, teaching, research, or production facilities in which work is done with indigenous or exotic agents that may cause serious or potentially lethal disease as a result of exposure by the inhalation route.

Examples of BSL3 Agents:

Myobacterium tuberculosis Vesicular Stomatitis Virus

Yellow Fever Virus

Francisella tularensis - during manipulations of cultures and for experimental animal studies

Coxiella burnetti - for activities involving inoculation, incubation, and harvesting of embryonated eggs or cell cultures, necropsy of infected animals, and manipulation of infected tissues

Laboratory personnel have specific training in handling pathogenic and potentially lethal agents and are supervised by scientists who are experienced in working with these agents.

All procedures involving the manipulation of infectious materials are conducted within biological safety cabinets or other physical containment devices or by personnel wearing appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment. The laboratory has special engineering and design features.

It is recognized that many existing facilities may not have all the facility safeguards recommended for BSL3 (e.g., access zone, sealed penetrations, and directional airflow). In these circumstances, acceptable safety may be achieved for routine or repetitive operations (e.g., diagnostic procedures involving the propagation of an agent for identification, typing, and susceptibility testing) in BSL2 facilities. However, the recommended Standard Microbiological Practices, Special Practices, and Safety Equipment for BSL3 must be rigorously followed. The decision to implement this modification of BSL3 recommendations should be made only by the laboratory director. In addition to all the requirements for BSL2, work at BSL3 requires:

Special Practices (BSL3):

1. Laboratory doors are kept closed when experiments are in progress.

2. The laboratory director controls access to the laboratory and restricts access to persons whose presence is required for program or support purposes.

3. The laboratory director is responsible for ensuring that before working with organisms at BSL3, all personnel demonstrate proficiency in standard microbiological practices and techniques, and in the practices and operations specific to the laboratory facility. This might include prior experience in handling human pathogens or cell cultures, or a specific training program provided by the laboratory director or other scientist proficient in safe microbiological practices and techniques.

4. All manipulations involving infectious materials are conducted in biological safety cabinets or other physical containment devices within the containment module. No work in open vessels is conducted on the open bench.

5. All potentially contaminated waste materials (e.g., gloves and lab coats) from laboratories or animal rooms are decontaminated before disposal or reuse.

6. Spills of infectious materials are decontaminated, contained, and cleaned by appropriate professional staff, or others properly trained and equipped to work with concentrated infectious material.

Safety Equipment (Primary Barriers) (BSL3):

1. Properly maintained biological safety cabinets are used (Class II or III) for all manipulation of infectious materials.

2. Outside of a BSC, appropriate combinations of personal protective equipment are used (e.g., special protective clothing, masks, gloves, face protection, or respirators), in combination with physical containment devices (e.g., centrifuge safety cups, sealed centrifuge rotors, or containment caging for animals).

3. This equipment must be used for manipulations of cultures and of those clinical or environmental materials that may be a source of infectious aerosols; the aerosol challenge of experimental animals; harvesting of tissues or fluids from infected animals and embryonated eggs; and necropsy of infected animals.

4. Respiratory protection is worn when aerosols cannot be safely contained (i.e., outside of a biological safety cabinet), and in rooms containing infected animals.

5. Protective laboratory clothing such as solid-front or wrap-around gowns, scrub suits, or coveralls must be worn inside the laboratory only. Reusable laboratory clothing is to be decontaminated before being laundered.

Laboratory Facilities (Secondary Barriers) (BSL3):

1. The laboratory is separated from areas that are open to unrestricted traffic flow within the building. Passage through two sets of self-closing doors is the basic requirement for entry into the laboratory from access corridors or other contiguous areas. A clothes change room (shower optional) may be included in the passageway.

2. Each laboratory contains a sink for handwashing. The sink is foot, elbow, or automatically operated and is located near the laboratory exit door.

3. The interior surfaces of walls, floors, and ceilings are water-resistant so that they can be easily cleaned. Penetrations in these surfaces are sealed or capable of being sealed to facilitate decontamination.

4. Windows in the laboratory are closed and sealed.

5. A method for decontaminating all laboratory wastes is available, preferably within the laboratory (i.e., autoclave, chemical disinfection, incineration, or other approved decontamination method).

6. A ducted exhaust air ventilation system is provided. This system creates directional airflow that draws air from "clean" areas into the laboratory toward "contaminated" areas. The exhaust air is not recirculated to any other area of the building, and is discharged to the outside with filtration and other treatment optional. The outside exhaust must be dispersed away from occupied areas and air intakes. Laboratory personnel must verify that the direction of airflow (into the laboratory) is proper.

7. The High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtered exhaust air from Class II or Class III biological safety cabinets is discharged directly to the outside or through the building exhaust system. If the HEPA filtered exhaust air from Class II or Class III biological safety cabinets is to be discharged to the outside through the building exhaust air system, it is connected to this system in a manner (e.g., thimble unit connection) that avoids any interference with the air balance of the cabinets or building exhaust system. Exhaust air from Class II biological safety cabinets may be recirculated within the laboratory if the cabinet is tested and certified according to the guidelines included on National Sanitation Foundation Standard 49.

8. Continuous flow centrifuges or other equipment that may produce aerosols are contained in devices that exhaust air through HEPA filters before discharge into the laboratory.

9. Vacuum lines are protected with liquid disinfectant traps and HEPA filters, or their equivalent, which are routinely maintained and replaced as needed.

3. Laboratory Equipment

Biological Safety Cabinets

A biological safety cabinet is used as a primary barrier against exposure to infectious biological agents. A BSC has High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters. The airflow in a BSC is laminar, i.e. the air moves with uniform velocity in one direction along parallel flow lines. A BSC must be used in conjunction with safe laboratory techniques, because potentially dangerous aerosols can still escape.

Depending on the design, a BSC may be vented to the outside or the air may be exhausted into the room. BSCs are not chemical fume hoods. A percentage of the air is recirculated in most types of BSCs. Therefore, the levels of explosive, flammable, or toxic materials will be concentrated within the cabinet. HEPA filters only trap particulates, allowing any contaminant in non-particulate form to pass through the filter.

Classes of BSCs

Class I

In Class I BSCs, the exhaust air is HEPA filtered so the user and the environment are protected, but the product inside the cabinet is not. With a Class I cabinet, the user's hands and arms while inside the cabinet are exposed to the infectious materials. The Class I BSC is designed for general microbiological research with low to moderate risk agents, and is useful for containment of mixers, blenders, and other equipment.

Class II

There are different types of Class II BSCs, but they all offer HEPA filtered supply and exhaust air. This type of cabinet will protect the user, environment, and the product and is suitable for work assigned to Biosafety Levels 1, 2, or 3. Class II cabinets are the class most commonly used.

Class III

These cabinets are often referred to as Gloveboxes. The Class III cabinet is gas-tight and under negative pressure. All work in the cabinet is performed through rubber gloves attached to entry portals. The Class III cabinet offers the highest level of protection from infectious aerosols. Class III cabinets are most suitable for work with agents that require BSL3 or BSL4 containment.

Proper Use of BSCs:

1. Before and after use, wipe the surface of the BSC with a suitable disinfectant, e.g., 70% alcohol or a 1:10 bleach solution.

2. Place everything you will need inside the cabinet before beginning work, including a waste container. You should not have to penetrate the air barrier of the cabinet once work has begun.

3. Do not place anything on the air intake grilles as this will block the air supply.

4. A sign can be posted on the door of the room stating that the cabinet is in use.

5. You should prevent unnecessary opening and closing of doors as this will disrupt the airflow of the cabinet.

6. Always wear a lab coat while using the cabinet and conduct your work at least four inches inside the cabinet.

7. Place burners to the rear of the cabinet to reduce air turbulence.

8. Place a disinfectant-soaked towel on the work surface to contain any splatters or small spills that might occur.

9. Do not work in the BSC while the ultraviolet light is on. Ultraviolet light can quickly injure the eye.

10. When finished with your work procedure, cover the waste container and decontaminate the surfaces of any equipment that is not enclosed.

11. Operate the cabinet for five minutes before and after performing any work in it in order to purge airborne contaminants.

12. Remove the equipment from the cabinet and decontaminate the work surface.

13. Thoroughly wash your hands and arms.

Certification of BSCs

A BSC must be certified annually and after it has been newly installed, moved, or had a filter replaced. There are several companies in the area which provide this service. For further information, contact the EH&S Hazardous Materials Division at 471-3511.

Clean Benches

Clean benches (a.k.a. laminar flow hoods) are not considered laboratory safety equipment. However, they deserve mention because they may be confused with BSCs. A clean bench is designed to protect the product from contamination, but it does not protect the user. The direction of airflow in a clean bench is toward the user.

Pipetting Devices

In the distant past, some lab personnel were taught to mouth pipette. This practice has been known to result in many laboratory acquired infections. With the availability of mechanical pipetting devices, mouth pipetting is strictly prohibited. Mouth pipetting should never be used, even for innocuous materials, because you may at some time mistakenly mouth pipette something that is hazardous. To minimize aerosol production, a pipette should be drained with the tip against the inner wall of the receiving vessel. Never forcibly expel any hazardous material from a pipette.

Centrifuges, Sonicators, Homogenizers, and Blenders

All of these instruments can create aerosols and this must be considered with each use. The necessary precautions taken will depend upon what is being used in these instruments. If hazardous materials such as carcinogens, highly toxic, or infectious agents will be placed in any of these instruments, then precautions must be taken to prevent an exposure of lab personnel to aerosols or liquids.

Centrifuges

Centrifuges that have sealed buckets, safety trunnion cups, or sealed heads are effective at preventing the escape of aerosols and liquids. The potential for exposing people to a hazardous material used in a centrifuge is great if the centrifuge tube breaks without the use of the safety features mentioned above.

Routinely inspect your centrifuge to ensure leakage is not occurring. An indicator such as fluorescein can be used to detect leaks. The fluorescein can be added to water and then centrifuged as you would other materials. An ultraviolet light can then be used to detect the fluorescein's presence on work surfaces, floors, and walls.

Sonicators, Homogenizers, and Blenders

Depending on the nature of the material being used in these instruments and also in centrifuges, it may be necessary for them to be used or opened only in a biological safety cabinet. When working with infectious agents, blenders should have leak proof bearings and a tight-fitting, gasketed lid. Inspect the lid and gaskets routinely to ensure they are in good condition. Household blenders do not prevent the spread of aerosols. Also, hearing protection may be required while using a sonicator.

4. Personal Protective Clothing

The type of personal protective clothing required in microbiological labs will depend upon the assigned Biosafety Level for that lab (see Section 2 of this chapter regarding Biosafety Levels). The protective clothing suitable for a typical undergraduate microbiology lab is a lab coat, to prevent street clothes from getting soiled, and latex or vinyl gloves. Long hair must be restrained if Bunsen burners are in use.

For a typical graduate level teaching or research microbiology lab (which are often a BSL2), lab coats or similar protective clothing should be worn while in the lab, and gloves must be worn while handling any infectious materials. Additionally, if the work involves human blood, a face shield, safety glasses or goggles, and a mask may be required if there is a potential for splash.

A research lab that is assigned a Biosafety Level 3 has additional requirements for personal protective clothing: laboratory clothing that protects street clothing must be worn, e.g., a solid-front or wrap-around gown. Typical lab coats which button down the front are not acceptable because they do not provide full protection. Gloves must be worn in the lab, and respirators worn in rooms containing infected animals.

Whenever personal protective clothing becomes contaminated, it must be removed and replaced. Leave protective clothing in the lab and do not wear it to other non-lab areas. Disposable gloves are meant to be used only once and should then be discarded. In between glove changes, thoroughly wash your hands and arms.

5. Waste Disposal

There are many types of waste generated in a microbiological lab and all need to be handled, treated, stored, and disposed of properly (refer to EH&S Procedures for Disposal of Hazardous Waste manual for more detailed information).

6. Bloodborne Pathogens

In December 1991, the Federal Government published the final rule governing occupational exposure to bloodborne pathogens which became effective March 6, 1992. The objective of this standard is to provide guidelines to eliminate or minimize employee exposure to human bloodborne pathogens. A human bloodborne pathogen is a pathogenic microorganism, present in human blood, that can cause disease in humans. The standard includes the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines referred to as Universal Precautions.

If during the course of work a potential exists for coming in contact with human blood or other potentially infectious materials, you must receive training on bloodborne pathogens. Contact EH&S, Hazardous Materials Division, at 471-3511 for information regarding Bloodborne Pathogens Training.

The CDC Universal Precautions are used as an approach to infection control. The concept behind Universal Precautions is to treat all human blood and certain human body fluids as if known to be infected with HIV, Hepatitis B, and other bloodborne pathogens. The Universal Precautions are summarized below and should be practiced whenever coming in contact with human blood:

1. Use appropriate barrier precautions to prevent skin and mucus membrane exposure when contact with blood is anticipated. Always wear gloves. Wear masks and protective eyewear or face shields to prevent exposure to the eyes, mouth, and nose during procedures that are likely to result in droplets of blood. Wear gowns or aprons during procedures that are likely to result in splashes of blood. Remove all protective clothing before leaving the laboratory.

2. Wash hands and other skin surfaces immediately if contaminated with blood and after the removal of gloves.

3. Limit the use of needles to where there is no alternative and take precautions to prevent injuries by needles and other sharps. To prevent needle-stick injuries, needles should not be recapped, bent, removed from the syringe, or otherwise manipulated by hand. Place needles and other sharps into puncture-resistant containers.

4. Keep all specimens of blood in well constructed containers with a secure lid to prevent leakage during transport.

5. Use biological safety cabinets whenever procedures that have a high potential for generating droplets are conducted.

6. Never mouth pipette.

7. Decontaminate laboratory work surfaces after a spill of blood and when work activities are completed.

Some animals can also carry pathogens that can be transmitted to humans through contact with their body fluids, similar to human bloodborne pathogens. This contact can occur through biting, spitting, or contamination of broken skin or mucus membranes with bodily secretions from the animal. An example of a disease transmitted this way is the B-virus infection. B-virus is a naturally occurring alpha-herpes virus infecting macaques. Human infection has been documented in 25 instances, 16 of those resulting in death.

When working with animals such as macaques that are capable of transmitting disease to humans, take necessary precautions to protect yourself. Wear gloves, masks, and laboratory coats whenever entering an area where these animals are housed. Guidelines are available for safely working with macaques and can be obtained by calling EH&S.

7. Emergency Procedures

Refer to the Emergency Procedures Section of this manual, Chapter B, for important information on emergency procedures. In this section, some specific instructions will be given for the clean up of a biological spill.

Some biological materials when spilled or released can lead to significant infection exposures of personnel. This is particularly hazardous when the agent spilled or released is classified as a BSL2 agent or higher. The following emergency procedures that must be followed are determined by the Biosafety Level of the agent involved.

Spills or Releases Involving BSL1 Agents:

1. Wear a lab coat and disposable gloves.

2. Soak a paper towel(s) in an appropriate disinfectant such as a fresh 1:10 bleach solution and place over the spill area.

3. Place the paper towels and gloves into a biohazard bag (available from EH&S) for disposal by EH&S or autoclave the materials.

Spills or Releases Involving BSL2 Agents:

1. If an accident occurs that may generate aerosols or droplets of an infectious agent, leave the area, close the door, decontaminate clothing and shower. Allow at least 30 minutes for the droplets to settle and for the aerosol concentration to decrease.

2. Wear appropriate personal protective clothing such as gloves, lab coat, and approved respiratory equipment, if needed.

3. Cover the spill area with paper towels, pour a 1:10 bleach solution around the edges of the spill and then into the spill. Allow 10 minutes contact time.

4. Working from the outer edges into the center, use paper towels to clean the area. Clean the spill area with fresh towels soaked in a disinfectant. Be sure to decontaminate any areas or surfaces that you suspect may have been effected by the spill. Place all clean up materials and gloves into a bag for decontamination, preferably by autoclaving. Wash thoroughly.

5. A small spill of material that did not result in a significant generation of aerosols, or contamination of a person, can be cleaned up following steps two through four above.

Spills or Releases Involving BSL3 Agents:

1. If the spill occurs in a biological safety cabinet, keep the cabinet running, and clean the spill following steps two through four from Spills or Releases Involving BSL2 Agents, except that personal protective clothing appropriate for a BSL3 lab should be worn. If the spill in the cabinet is quite substantial, it may be necessary to decontaminate the cabinet's fan, filters, and airflow plenums. This should be done by a qualified outside company. Call the EH&S Biological and Laboratory Safety Coordinator for assistance.

2. If a minor spill occurs outside of a biological safety cabinet, follow steps two through four from Spills or Releases Involving BSL2 Agents, except that personal protective clothing appropriate for a BSL3 lab should be worn.

3. If anything other than a minor spill occurs outside of a biological safety cabinet, leave the area immediately and notify appropriate personnel including the EH&S Biological and Laboratory Safety Coordinator. A specially designed decontamination procedure may be necessary.

Note: Whenever bleach is used to clean up spills of an infectious agent, a fresh solution should be prepared. After about one week, a bleach and water solution will lose its effectiveness for decontamination.

References:

Biosafety in the Laboratory, Prudent Practices for the Handling and Disposal of Infectious Materials. National Research Council. 1989.

Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, Third Edition. Centers for Disease Control and National Institutes of Health. 1993.