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Animal Facility - Biosafety Level 3 (ABSL-3)

This is suitable for work involving animals that are infected with agents assigned to Risk Group 3.

Standard Microbiological Practices
The following practices must be used in an ABSL-3 lab:

• Prior to initiation of work
  All procedures involving animals must be approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) before initiation of work.

• Facility specific biosafety manual
  Each animal facility must supplement this biosafety manual with information that is specific for the facility. Supplemental information may include: specific PPE practices and location of supplies, laboratory specific training requirements, laboratory specific waste handling practices and autoclave procedures, safe operation and decontamination of lab specific equipment, proper use of disinfectants specific for the lab (appropriate concentration, contact time and shelf life), etc. It is the responsibility of the facility director to ensure that all p ersonnel are advised of potential hazards and are required to read and follow instructions on practices and procedures.

• Training
  All personnel must complete required ORCBS training courses. See the following section of this manual for a description of courses: General Laboratory Practices- Training . The facility director must ensure that all personnel receive site-specific training regarding their duties, animal husbandry procedure, potential hazards, manipulations of infectious agents, necessary precautions to prevent hazard or exposures, and hazard/exposure evaluation procedures (physical hazards, splashes, aerosolization, etc.). Personnel must receive annual updates or additional training when procedures or policies change. Records are maintained.

• Medical surveillance
  All personnel involved in animal research must complete an assessment through Occupational Health before work is initiated. All personnel using human-derived materials or cell lines must participate in the Bloodborne Pathogens Program. See the MSU Exposure Control Plan for additional information. For the use of other agents, medical surveillance and immunizations will be provided as appropriate. Those people using respirators must participate in the Respiratory Protection Program. Occupational Health as well as the ORCBS should be contacted for assistance.

• Door signage
  Entrances to all animal areas must have an "Admittance to Authorized Personnel Only" label. This label contains appropriate contact information for general and emergency entrance to the lab. Additionally, the lab entrance must be labeled with an Animal Biosafety Level 3 door sign and a signed Animal Hazard Control Form. These signs include applicable occupational health requirements, personal protective equipment requirements, contact information for the person responsible, as well as any specific procedures for entering and exiting the area.

• Controlled access
  The facility supervisor must ensure that access to the animal areas is controlled. The fewest number of individuals possible should be allowed access. Only those people necessary should be allowed into the facility. When procedures are in progress the lab door should be shut and when no one is present in the lab the doors should be locked. Anyone requesting access to the facility should be questioned as to their purpose and identification should be provided. All people requesting access must be advised of the potential hazards as well as appropriate safeguards.

• Personal protective equipment (PPE)
  The use of laboratory coats, gowns or uniforms is required to prevent contamination of street clothing. Splash goggles and face protection must be used when there is the potential for splashes of microorganisms or other hazardous materials. Respirators must be worn as appropriate. Gloves must be worn as protection from hazardous materials and when handling animals. Two pairs should be worn as appropriate. If latex gloves are used, alternatives should be made available. Gloves must be changed when contaminated, when the integrity has been compromised, or when necessary. Disposable gloves must not be washed or reused. All PPE should be doffed so that the transfer of infectious materials to areas beyond where they or animals are being handled is minimized. Hands must be washed after removing gloves, and before leaving the animal room. Used disposable PPE should be disposed of with other contaminated waste. Reusable PPE (i.e., goggles) should be appropriately decontaminated before reuse. Reusable protective clothing should be laundered through MSU Laundry. It must not be taken home. If visibly contaminated, laundry should be placed in a biohazard bag before be placed with other items to go to laundry.
   
• Eating, drinking, handling contact lenses and applying cosmetics
  Eating, drinking, contact lens handling and cosmetic application must be done outside of animal and procedure rooms. Food and beverages for human consumption must be stored outside of the animal and procedure areas in refrigerators or cabinets designated for that purpose.

• Minimize splashes and aerosols
  Essentially all laboratory procedures involve steps which create aerosols. All procedures should be completed in a manner which minimizes the creation of both splashes and aerosols. This can be done by using centrifuges with safety features (i.e., sealed cups and rotors), mechanical pipettors, conducting work inside of a biological safety cabinet, etc.

• Handwashing
  Hands must be washed with soap and water after handling potentially infectious materials. Hands should be washed before leaving the laboratory and before touching common use surfaces (i.e, computers, telephones, etc.).

• Pipetting
  Mechanical pipetting devices must be available and used. Mouth pipetting is prohibited.

• Safe sharps practices
  All policies regarding the safe use of sharps must be followed. See the following section of this manual for additional information: Recommended Work Practices- Sharps .

• Decontaminate work surfaces
  Work surfaces must be decontaminated after work is finished and after a spill of potentially hazardous materials. Appropriate disinfectant should be used.

• Non-research related animals and plants in the laboratory
  Animals and plants not associated with the work being done are not allowed in areas where work with infectious materials or animals is being done or where infectious materials are stored or animals are housed.

• Pest management program
  A pest management program is managed through the Office of Environmental Compliance. They should be contacted at the first sign of a problem.

• Proper decontamination and transport of waste
  All cultures, stocks, wastes from animal rooms, and other biohazardous materials must be decontaminated before disposal. If you will be transporting waste out of the laboratory (e.g., down the hall, to another floor of the building, etc.) to be decontaminated you must ensure that the waste is placed in a leak-proof, covered container and is secured. Please refer to the following section of this manual: Biohazardous Waste and the MSU Biohazardous Waste Management Plan for additional information regarding to the proper decontamination of biohazardous waste.

ABSL3: Special Practices

Biosafety Manual Table of Contents