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Chapter 12: Animal Biosafety Levels

      Animal Biosafety Levels

    Biosafety Manual

           Effective:

        Version 1.0

West Virginia University adheres to the most current edition of Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant and Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules by the National Institutes of Health for establishing biosafety levels and determining appropriate precautions and containment for each biosafety level.

Containment of biohazards is a fundamental objective of a biosafety program. Containment is achieved through a variety of principles including laboratory practices, primary barriers including safety equipment, personal protective equipment (PPE), and secondary barriers such as facility design.

This chapter describes ABSL-1, ABSL-2, and ABSL-3 requirements that must be followed in addition to the requirements detailed in Chapter 4: Biosafety Levels of the WVU Biosafety Manual for the respective biosafety level.

1. DEFINITIONS:

   1.1. Animal Biosafety Levels (ABSLs) are a set of safety practices, equipment, and facility           requirements designed to protect personnel, animals, and the environment when working with           infectious agents in animal research. ABSLs correspond to laboratory biosafety levels (BSL-1           through BSL-4) but are tailored to the additional risks posed by animal housing and husbandry

2. PROCEDURE:

  ABSL-1

a. Description

      ABSL-1 is suitable for work involving well-characterized agents not known to cause disease in       healthy adult humans or animals. These represent minimal risk to personnel and the environment.

b. Standard Practices

  • All OLAR procedures must be followed.
  • Personnel must receive appropriate training in animal care and safe laboratory techniques.
  • Access to the animal facility is limited when animals are present.
  • Proper waste handling and animal carcass disposal procedures must be followed.

c. Engineering Controls

Equipment

  • No containment equipment is required for procedures
  • Cage changes are performed in an Animal Transfer Station.

d. Administrative Controls

  • Animals must be anesthetized and/or restrained prior to performing procedures, including injections.

e. Personal Protective Equipment

  • Personnel must follow and wear the PPE defined by the sign on the door of the room.

ABSL-2

a. Description

ABSL-2 builds on ABSL-1 practices with enhancements for working with biohazards. It is appropriate for work with animals infected with agents associated with human disease that pose moderate hazards to personnel and the environment. This section defines the additional requirements of working with animals at ABSL2 in addition to the WVU Biosafety Manual Chapter 4:Biosafety Levels and WVU IACUC Policies and Guidelines.

b. Standard Practices

  • All ABSL-1 practices apply.
  • All BSL-2 practices as defined by WVU Biosafety Manual, Chapter 4: Biosafety Levels apply.
  •  All BSL-2 practices as defined by WVU IACUC APPROVED STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE: OLAR ABSL-2 Use in Animals apply.
  • Access to the facility is restricted to authorized personnel.
  • Personnel must receive specific training on the hazards of the agents being used.
  • An institutional review (IACUC and IBC) must approve animal protocols involving infectious agents.
  • Warning signs must be posted at facility entrances including the universal biohazard symbol and Animal Biosafety Level of the room.

c. Engineering Controls

  Equipment

  • Biosafety Cabinets (BSCs) must be used for procedures with potential to generate aerosols or splashes, including animal cage changes.
  • If a BSC cannot be used for a certain procedure, alternative controls must be approved by the BSO through a risk assessment. Alternative controls could include:
    • Other engineering controls such as a downdraft table or other filtered exhaust device.
    • A combination of additional administrative controls and PPE.
  • Animals will be housed in micro-isolator (filter-topped), HEPA exhausted cages.
    • Cage racks used at ABSL2, including HEPA filters, will be certified annually.

  Facility

  • ABSL-2 space must be kept at a negative pressure to surrounding areas.
    • If a failure of the HVAC system occurs and the negative pressure is lost, all work with animals must be stopped until negative pressure returns.

d. Administrative Controls

  • If an infectious animal must be moved to an ABSL-1 space, a plan must be approved by the BSO through a risk assessment.
  • Animals must be anesthetized and/or restrained prior to performing procedures, including injections.
  • All cages with biohazards are autoclaved prior to washing.
    • Mixed hazard (biohazard and chemical hazard combined) cages are disinfected with bleach in a BSC and then dumped as chemical hazardous waste.

e. Personal Protective Equipment

  • Laboratory coats, gloves, and face/eye protection are required in accordance with Chapter 10: PPE for Biohazards.
  • Additional respiratory protection may be required depending on risk assessment.
  • All PPE must be removed and discarded before leaving designated ABLS2 space

ABSL-3

a. Description

ABSL-3 is required for work with animals infected with indigenous or exotic agents that may cause serious or potentially lethal disease through inhalation. This level provides enhanced primary and secondary barriers to contain infectious aerosols.

b. Standard Practices

  • All ABSL-3 requirements are contained within the WVU High Containment Area Biosafety Manual (SOPs).


Version History:

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Matt Stinoski