Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents

Projects incorporating microorganisms (including bacteria, viruses, viroids, prions, rickettsia, fungi, and parasites), recombinant DNA (rDNA) technologies or human or animal fresh tissues, blood, or body fluids may involve working with potentially hazardous biological agents. Students are permitted to do research projects with potentially hazardous biological agents as long as every effort is made to ensure that they work safely and that the projects meet the conditions and rules described below. The following rules were developed to protect students and to help them adhere to federal and international biosafety regulations and guidelines.

When dealing with potentially hazardous biological agents it is the responsibility of the student and all of the adults involved in a research project to conduct a Risk Assessment. Risk assessment defines the potential level of harm, injury or disease to plants, animals and humans that may occur when working with biological agents. The end result of a risk assessment is the assignment of a final biosafety level which then determines the laboratory facilities, equipment, training, and supervision required for the research project to proceed.

Rules

Here are the Rules for projects involving microorganisms, recombinant DNA technologies and human or animal fresh tissues, blood or body fluids. Additional rules and more information can be found at the section "Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents" of 2006 Rules

Biosafety Levels

Biological agents, plant or animal, are classified according to biosafety level risk groups. Go to Biosafety Levels for more information about the classification of biological agents and levels of biological containment.