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THE ORCBS > Biological Safety > Programs & Guidelines > Biosafety Manual >
When cell cultures are known to contain an etiologic agent or an oncogenic virus, the cell line can be classified at the same RG level as that recommended for the agent. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and OSHA recommend that all cell lines of human origin be handled at BSL-2. All personnel working with or handling these materials need to be included in MSU's Bloodborne Pathogen Program (Refer to the MSU Exposure Control Plan for additional information). Cell lines which are non-primate or are of normal primate origin, which do not harbor a primate virus, which are not contaminated with bacteria, mycoplasma or fungi and which are well established may be considered Class I cell lines and handled at a Biosafety Level 1. Appropriate tests should confirm this assessment. Primate cell lines derived from lymphoid or tumor tissue, all cell lines exposed to or transformed by a primate oncogenic virus, all clinical material (e.g., samples of human tissues and fluids obtained after surgical resection or autopsy), all primate tissue, all cell lines new to the laboratory (until shown to be free of all adventitious agents) and all virus and mycoplasma-containing primate cell lines are classified as RG-2 and should be handled at a Biosafety Level 2. Studies involving suspensions of HIV prepared from T-cell lines must be handled at BL-3. Recent product recalls for bovine serum have raised the awareness of potential Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) or TSE (Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy) contamination of those sera. For more information on testing and purity of bovine serum used in your laboratory, contact your supplier. |
Guidelines for Working with Tissue Culture/Cell Lines 
