What are Biosafety Levels (BSL)?
A fundamental objective of any biosafety program is the “containment” of potentially harmful biological agents. The term “containment” is used in describing safe methods, facilities and equipment for managing infectious materials in the laboratory environment where they are being handled or maintained. The purpose of containment is to reduce or eliminate exposure of laboratory workers, other persons, and the outside environment to potentially hazardous agents. The use of vaccines may provide an increased level of personal protection. The risk assessment of the work to be done with a specific agent will determine the appropriate combination of these elements. Four “Biosafety Levels ((BSL) have been developed. No BSL4 work is conducted at OSU. • BSL-1: 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. • BSL-2: Suitable for work involving agents of moderate p
