Biosafety Manual PDF - Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Biosafety Manual
IBC-approved version (May 18, 2010)
Requirements and specific practices for constructing and handling recombinant DNA molecules,
and organisms and viruses containing recombinant DNA molecules, are specified in the NIH
Guidelines. APHIS permits may also be required for the importation, interstate movement, or
environmental release of certain genetically engineered organisms that may be plant pests (see
Appendix I of this manual). Recombinant research requires a risk assessment, establishment of
containment levels and controls, and a Biosafety Work Authorization (for more information, see
Sections 2.0 to 5.0 of this manual and PUB-3000, Section 26.8).
3.3.6 Animals
Working with animals in research, caring for animals in animal care facilities, or coming in
contact with animals or vectors in the field may cause zoonotic or other diseases. A zoonosis
or zoonose is an infectious disease that can be transmitted (in some instances, by a vector)
from nonhuman animals, both wild and domestic, to humans, or from humans to nonhuman
animals (the latter is sometimes called reverse zoonosis). Human diseases caused by a
noninfectious, etiological agent derived from animals or their vectors are not considered a
zoonosis (e.g., allergic reactions to animal products such as dander or urine). Work involving
animals may expose workers to etiologic agents in a variety of ways such as wound infections,
inhalation of aerosols (e.g., dust from animal bedding), and animal bites or scratches. See Table
6 for examples of zoonotic diseases and other diseases related to animals.
Worker safety, agricultural, and recombinant risks related to working with animals must be
evaluated during the risk assessment, and proper containment measures must be employed.
See the following sections and standards for additional information:
• Sections 3.3.3 and 3.3.5 of this manual discuss agricultural and recombinant risks,
respectively;
• Section 4.4 of this manual provides an overview of laboratory and animal biosafety level
containment categories and criteria; and
• Section VIII of BMBL provides agent summary statements for zoonotic agents. It also
recommends containment levels for laboratory use of a zoonotic agent and containment
levels for handling animals infected with an agent.
Printed copies are not official versions of this manual. Before using the printed copy, verify that it is the most current version.
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