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Biosafety Challenges

A Rational and Attainable Approach to Successfully Implementing Biosafety in Laboratory Settings Worldwide. Anticipating Biosecurity Challenges of the Global Expansion of High Containment Biological Laboratories Istanbul, Turkey 11-13 July 2011 Barbara Johnson PhD, RBP

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Biosafety Challenges

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  1. A Rational and Attainable Approach to Successfully Implementing Biosafety in Laboratory Settings Worldwide. Anticipating Biosecurity Challenges of the Global Expansion of High Containment Biological Laboratories Istanbul, Turkey 11-13 July 2011 Barbara Johnson PhD, RBP Biosafety Biosecurity International

  2. Biosafety Challenges • Lack of funding • Lack of reliable/maintained infrastructure • Lack of containment equipment • Supply shortages/delayed shipments • Lack of training • Other? Regardless of these challenges the public health, medical, and R&D mission continues.

  3. BSL-3 Practices Enhance Safety • Training and proficiency: good practices prevent exposure • Control access to the lab: limit people in lab during work • Reducing community spread: designated lab over-clothes stay in the lab; should be decontaminated & laundered by the institute

  4. BSL-3 Practices Enhance Safety • Autoclave availability and power: Can we flame loops outside the BSC and place them in a sterile can in the BSC • Sharps cause many lab injuries: Puncture-proof containers near point ofuse ;alternatives to commercial containers • Waste decontamination options: autoclave, chemical, burn • Reducing spill hazard: reusable/sealable container for within-room and room-to-room transport

  5. Primary Containment Considerations • BSC: cost, space & power bumps are a reality. • Q: Is it infectious via the aerosol route??? • risk appropriate PPE (respirator/mask, face shield/goggles/gloves)... respirator reuse? • cleaning surfaces and equipment • can a ‘fan box’ (inward airflow, no HEPA) be vented to outside, pilot ongoing in Africa • flexible film isolators for higher aerosol hazards

  6. Adapting BSL-3 Design Features • Gas decontamination v surface wipe down for rooms and spaces with i.e. bleach • Directional airflow: place wall mounted exhaust fan at end of hall or inside the ‘lab with greatest hazards’ • Single-pass air or recirculate air from BSL-3??? • Air is not recirculated to lower containment levels- assess the risk (can it be HEPA filtered?) • WHO LBM and CDC/NIH BMBL

  7. Adapting BSL-3 Design Features • Air changes/hr • 10-12 was based on labs w/volatile chemicals • new minimum = 6 ACH for BSL-3 labs (could be less -depends on heat load, activities, is specific to the lab) • Night, weekend, holiday: decrease the conditioning of the air/lights to reduce expense • the lab really should not be ‘turned off’ – overheating, mold, condensation

  8. Adapting BSL-3 Design Features • N+1 systems: are they needed/which are needed • Systems and parts- local manufacture and installers; expertise is nearby, spares are available • Turnkey container labs: identify mission needs • a clean room with lots of HEPAs = $$ and overkill • HEPAs need to be annually certified • can exhaust air be vented away from public spaces and supply inlets (no re-entrainment)

  9. Adapting Construction

  10. Adapting Construction

  11. Practices / Protocols Facilities Equipment No “Only One Correct Way”... Biosafety is about risk assessment and planning: • prioritize the goals & needs • achieve it by balancing the available tools to reduce risk • plan ahead for accident, illness or injury

  12. Thank You Barbara Johnson, PhD, RBP 703-444-5028 barbara_johnson@verizon.net

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