WHO BSL3 Guidelines

With a concrete understanding that MRSA can be a very serious threat to public health as well as the researchers’ safety, we have followed the most strict rules and guidelines during the experiment. Since MRSA pose an increased risk of aerosol spread, we have observed the strengthened safety guidelines that the lab of Gacheon Medical School implements. Some of our experiments are categorized as WHO (World Health Organization) Biosafety Level 3. MRSA is categorized as WHO Risk Group 3 (High individual risk, low community risk: A pathogen that usually causes serious human or animal disease but does not ordinarily spread), so all experiments involved MRSA must be conducted in labs of Biosafety Level 3 (or higher). We followed the WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual in addition to the national standards. We followed the guidelines for WHO Biosafety Level 3 labs when conducting experiments involving MRSA, but we used guidelines for WHO Biosafety Level 2 labs when conducting experiments not involving MRSA. All WHO biosafety Level 2 guidelines overlapped with the general lab safety rules we followed, so I did not include any Biosafety Level 2 guidelines here. Also, I did not include any Biosafety Level 3 guidelines that overlapped with the general lab safety rules.

The international biohazard warning symbol and sign displayed on laboratory access doors must identify the biosafety level and the name of the laboratory supervisor who controls access, and indicate any special conditions for entry into the area, e.g. immunization.

Door with Biohazard symbol

We cannot access the lab without supervision of the instructor or mentor. When we conduct Biosafety Level 3 experiments, we must wear wrap-around gowns, scrub suits, or coveralls, head covering, and shoe covers. We must take off the laboratory protective clothing after the experiments and send it to the decontamination facility in the Gacheon Medical Center.

Double doors

Student in front of double doors

Student experimenting in biosafety cabinet under safety regulations above.

Open manipulations of all potentially infectious material must be conducted within a biological safety cabinet or other primary containment device.

Biosafety cabinet

Laboratory Design and Facilities

Isolation of laboratory

Room sealable for decontamination

Ventilation –inward airflow, controlled ventilating system, HEPA-filtered air exhaust

Double-door entry

Anteroom

Effluent treatment

Autoclave –on site, in laboratory room, double-ended

Biological safety cabinets

Personal safety monitoring capability

Laboratory Equipment

Biological safety cabinet –Aerosol and spatter : Maximum containment, provides product protection if laminar flow air is included.

Negative pressure flexible-film isolator-Aerosol and spatter: Maximum containment.

Spatter shield-Spatter of chemicals: Forms screen between operator and work.

Pipetting aids-Hazards from pipetting by mouth,e.g. ingestion of pathogens, inhalation of aerosols produced by mouth suction on pipette, blowing out of liquid or dripping form pipette, contamination of suction end of pipette.

Loop micro incinerators, disposable loops-Spatter from transfer loops: Shielded in open-ended glass or ceramic tube. Heated by gas or electricity, Disposable, no heating necessary.

Leak-proof vessels for collection and transport of infectious materials for sterilization within a facility: Aerosols, spillage and leakage: Leakproof construction with lid of cover, Durable, Autoclavable.

Sharps disposal containers-Puncture wounds: autoclavable, robust, puncture-proof.

Transport containers between laboratories, institutions-Release of microrganizms: robust, watertight primary and secondary containers to contain spills, absorbent material to contain spills.

Centrifuges that need additional containment accessories such as safety buckets or containment rotors.

All the above safety level guidelines for the laboratory equipment were met.

Health and medical surveillance

1. All members shall have submitted recording of a detailed medical history and targeted physical examination before being permitted to do lab work.

2. We have to carry medical contact that contain name and contact with photo.

Name tag (Front)

Name tag (Back)