THE ORCBS > Biological Safety > Programs & Guidelines > Biosafety Manual >

The Biosafety Level 3 Laboratory

The containment laboratory- Biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) is designed for work with agents that may cause serious or potentially lethal disease via inhalation. A BSL-3 lab may also be used when working with large volumes or high concentrations of Risk Group 2 microorganisms that pose an increased risk of aerosol spread.

Laboratory Design and Facilities

The facilities required in a biosafety level three laboratory include the following:

• Location
  The laboratory should be separated from areas that have unrestricted traffic flow within a building.
   
• Doors
  A series of two self-closing doors are required for access control. They must be closed when work is in progress inside the lab and they should be kept locked when no one is present in the laboratory.
   
• Sink
  A hands-free or automatic sink must be available and supplied for handwashing (i.e., stocked with soap and paper towels). It should be located near the exit door. If the lab is separated into multiple labs, each area must have a sink available and supplied for handwashing.
   
• Easily cleaned and decontaminated
  The lab must be designed in a way that allows it to be cleaned and decontaminated easily. Carpets and rugs are not allowed. Seams, floors, walls and ceiling surfaces should be sealed. Spaces around doors and ventilation openings should be capable of being sealed for whole room decontamination. Floors must be slip resistant, impervious to liquids and resistant to chemicals. Walls and ceilings should have a smooth, sealed finish to allow for decontamination. Whole lab decontamination should be considered when gross contamination has occurred, when there is a change in lab usage, for renovations, and for maintenance shutdowns.
   
• Furniture
  Furniture in the lab must be appropriate for the anticipated use. Bench tops must be impervious to water and resistant to heat, organic solvents, acids, alkalis and other chemicals. Chairs used in conjunction with lab work must be covered with a non-porous material that can be easily cleaned and disinfected.
   
• Windows
  If the lab has windows they must be sealed.
   
• Biological safety cabinets
  Biological safety cabinets (BSC) must be installed in a manner so that changes in room air do not interfere with the operation of the cabinet. They should be located away from doors, windows that can be opened, high traffic areas, and other areas that could cause disruptions in the airflow of the cabinet. They must be tested and certified at least annually and whenever relocated or serviced. BSCs should be operated in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. Refer to the following section of this manual for additional information: Safety Equipment- Biological Safety Cabinets .
   
• Vacuum lines
  Vacuum lines must be protected by High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters. Filters must be replaced as needed. Liquid disinfectant trap may be required.
   
• Eyewash stations
  An eyewash station must be readily available.
   
• Airflow
  A ducted ventilation system that provides directional airflow from "clean" areas to "potentially contaminated" ones is required. The lab must be designed so that under failure conditions that airflow will not be reversed. A means of visual verification of airflow must be available. Audible alarms should be considered. Exhaust air should be dispersed away from occupied building areas and from air intakes (or must be HEPA filtered) and cannot be recirculated to other areas of the building.
   
• Biological safety cabinet exhaust air
  The HEPA filtered exhaust air from a Class II BSC can be re-circulated within the laboratory as long as the cabinet is certified annually and operated according to the manufacturer's recommendations. The cabinet can also be connected to the building exhaust. Class III cabinets must be directly connected to the building exhaust. Air supply must be provided in a way that does not allow for positive pressurization of the cabinet.
   
• Waste decontamination
  A method for decontaminating lab wastes (i.e., autoclave, incineration, etc.) must be available. It is the responsibility of the generating department to decontaminate all solid non-sharps biohazardous waste and all liquid biohazardous waste. The ORCBS is responsible for the removal and proper treatment of sharps waste. See the MSU Biohazardous Waste Management Plan for additional information.
   
• Aerosol producing equipment
  Equipment that may produce infectious aerosols (e.g., centrifuges, blenders, sonicators, etc.) must be used in containment devices that HEPA filter the exhaust air before being released to the laboratory. The HEPA filters must be tested or changed at least annually.
   
• Equipment decontamination
  The facility must be designed so that large pieces of equipment can be decontaminated before being removed from the laboratory.
   
• Facility verification
  The facility design, operational parameters and procedures must be verified and documented before initial operation. Annual facility re-verification is required.

BSL3: Standard Microbiological Practices

Biosafety Manual Table of Contents