2-9. BIOSAFETY IN THE LABORATORY
a. All laboratory personnel must be aware of the potential dangers of handling
patient or biological reagents and must always treat them as potentially infectious.
b. Classification of work activity:
(1) All personnel positions within the laboratory should be categorized as to
their potential for exposure to blood or body fluid specimen.
(2) Each category of workers should receive infection control training specific to
his or her position as well as background information about the risks of exposure.
(3) Public Health Service biosafety levels:
(a) Level 1 - work that involves agents of no known or of minimal potential
hazard to laboratory personnel and the environment.
(b) Level 2 - work that involves agents of moderate potential hazard to
personnel and the environment.
(c) Level 3 - work that involves indigenous or exotic agents that may cause
serious or potentially lethal disease as a result of exposure by inhalation.
(4) Most activities involving work with blood are in the level 2 category.
c. Biosafety level 2 precautions:
(1) No mouth pipetting is permitted.
(2) No eating, drinking, smoking or applying cosmetics or contact lenses in the
work area.
(3) All food and drinks are stored separately outside the restricted area.
(4) Laboratory glassware is never used for food or drink.
(5) Personnel are instructed to avoid touching faces, ears, mouth, or nose with
hands or other objects such as pencils and telephones.
(6) Waste should not be compacted and is decontaminated before disposal in
leakproof containers.
(a) Waste is properly packaged in doubled, seamless, tear-resistant,
orange or red bags.
MD0868
2-15