Question

What are the $4$ Biosafety Levels?

Answer 1

Biosafety Levels:

Biosafety Levels (BSL) are used to identify the protective measures required in a laboratory setting to protect workers, the environment, and the public.

Biosafety Level 1:

1. Biosafety Level 1 laboratories are used to study infectious agents or toxins that are not known to cause persistent disease in healthy adults.
2. They adhere to basic safety procedures, called standard microbiological practice, and do not require any special tools or design features.

Biosafety Level 2:

1. Biosafety Level 2 laboratories are used to study medium-risk infectious agents or toxins that pose a risk if accidentally inhaled, swallowed, or exposed to the skin.
2. Design requirements for BSL-2 laboratories include hand washing sinks, eye wash stations in case of an accident, and doors that automatically close and lock.

Biosafety Level 3:

1. Biosafety Level 3 laboratories are used to study infectious agents or toxins that can be transmitted through the air and bring in potentially deadly infections through inhalation exposure.
2. The researchers performed all the experiments in a biosafety cabinet that used carefully controlled airflow or a sealed enclosure to prevent infection.

Biosafety Level 4:

1. Biosafety Level 4 laboratories are used to study infectious agents or toxins that pose a high risk of aerosol-transmitted laboratory infections and life-threatening diseases for which no vaccine or cure is available.