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Laboratory Biosecurity

Recent events have brought to the forefront the necessity of having a comprehensive laboratory security program. However, before outlining the biosecurity requirements that have been implemented by the University it is important to understand the distinction between "biosafety" and "biosecurity."

"Biosafety" is the application of knowledge, techniques and equipment to prevent personal, laboratory and environmental exposure to potentially infectious agents or other biohazards. "Biosecurity" refers to measures designed to protect microbiological agents from loss, theft, misuse or intentional release, and to protect research-related information from loss, theft or misuse. This can be accomplished by limiting access to facilities, biological materials and research-related information. Sufficient security for the biological materials in use may already be in place for laboratories that do not handle select agents, exempt levels of toxins on the select agents list or exempt strains of select agents. These security measures include access controls and training requirements outlined for BSL-1 and BSL-2 laboratories previously. If you wish to handle select agents, exempt levels of select agent toxins, exempt strains of select agents, other agents of public health or agricultural concern, or agents of high commercial value please contact the Biosafety Team for additional biosecurity requirements.

Elements of the biosecurity program at MSU include:

1. Physical security: Access control and monitoring are intended to prevent the removal of materials for unauthorized purposes. Access should be limited to authorized personnel based on the necessity of entering sensitive areas. At a minimum, laboratory doors must be locked when no one is present in the lab, all storage units housed in shared space (i.e., hallway, storage room, etc.) must be locked, and all persons entering the laboratory should be asked for identification and questioned as to their purpose for being there.
    
2. Inventory and accountability: It is the responsibility of each laboratory to establish material accountability procedures. These should be designed to track the inventory, storage, use, transfer and destruction of biological materials. The purpose is to know what agents are housed in a lab, where they are located and if they are all accounted for. See Appendix H for an example of an inventory log.
    
3. Transport of biological agents: Material transport policies are in place that outline requirements for transporting locally on campus and outside of campus. See the following section of this manual for additional information: Introduction to the Transport of Biological Materials .
    
4. Reporting and communication: In addition to following departmental reporting requirements should a security breach occur, the laboratory must also notify DPS and the Biological Safety Officer. Investigation into the breach will occur as appropriate.
    
5. Training: Laboratory security awareness training is required for anyone who has access to a laboratory. This training is available online at www.orcbs.msu.edu . This training must be completed as soon as possible after hire.

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