Risk Group and Biosafety Containment Level

Risk Group Biosafety Containment Level Examples

(NIH Guidelines)

Risk Group 1: BSL-1 Escherichia coli; K12

Agents are NOT
associated with disease
in healthy adult humans.
(Low risk)
derivatives (DH5a,
Work is done on open bench tops and special
JH109, pBluescript,
containment equipment is not required psi2); All EXEMPT
Standard microbiological practices are observed rDNA work

Risk Group 2: BSL-2  Adenovirus all

Agents are associated
with human disease
which is rarely serious.
There are often
preventive or
therapeutic interventions
available.
(Moderate risk)
types; human
All BSL-1 containment and practices plus the following:
 All human
Laboratory access is restricted when experimental work blood-
is in progress contaminated
Personnel have specific training in handling of agents specimens:
HIV/SIV
Biological safety cabinets (BSC) or other physical
infected animals
containment devices are used for potential aerosol  Human cell
generation procedures lines eg. HEK
Biohazard signs must be posted 293
Specific PPE (personnel protective equipment) and  Herpes Simplex Virus
 Rabies Virus
entrance requirements  Pseudorabies Virus

Risk Group 3: BSL-3  Bartonella

Agents are associated
with serous or lethal
human disease for which
preventive or
therapeutic interventions
MAY be available.
(High risk)
 Coxiella burnetii
All BSL-2 containment and practices plus the following:
 Mycobacterium bovis
Specific facility design parameters must be followed,  Poxviruses
including requirements for location, ventilation, room  Retroviruses
integrity and security

Risk Group 4: BSL-4  Arenaviruses

Agents are likely to  Filoviruses
NO current facilities exist to accommodate risk group 4
cause serious or lethal agents at Oklahoma State University.
human disease for which
preventive or
therapeutic interventions
are NOT USUALLY
available.
(Extreme risk)
 Risk Group and Biosafety Containment Level for Animal,
Plant, or rDNA not related to risk in Humans
Risk Group
(NIH Guidelines)
Risk Group 1: BSL-1
Experiments that do not
pose a risk to the
environment – release
would not result in
surviving in the
environment. (Low risk)
Risk Group 2: BSL-2
Experiments that involve
work agents or transgenics
that if released would be
viable in the environment
but would have a
negligible impact or could
be readily managed.
(Moderate risk)
Risk Group 3: BSL-3
Experiments that a release
outside the lab would have
significant detrimental
impact on the environment.
(High risk)
Risk Group 4: BSL-4
Experiments with exotics
that are serious pathogens
of major US crops and
agriculture, and would
have a devastating impact
on the environment.
(Extreme risk)
Biosafety Containment Level Examples
Escherichia coli; K12
derivatives (DH5a,
Work is done on open bench tops and special
JH109, pBluescript,
containment equipment is not required psi2); All EXEMPT
Standard microbiological practices are observed rDNA work;
Rhizobium,
Agrobacterium
 rDNA work on plants
that could become
All BSL-1 containment and practices plus the
established if released
following:  Potentially harmful
Laboratory/Facility/Greenhouse access is restricted microorganisms to
when experimental work is in progress other animals or plants
Personnel have specific training in handling of agents but that are manageable
Exotics that pose no
Biological safety cabinets (BSC) or other physical potential harm to
containment devices are used for potential aerosol managed or natural
generation procedures ecosystems
Biohazard signs must be posted  Herpes Simplex Virus
 Rabies Virus
Specific PPE (personnel protective equipment) and  Pseudorabies Virus
entrance requirements
 Exotic infectious
agents capable of
All BSL-2 containment and practices plus the
causing serious
following: environmental harm
Specific facility design parameters must be followed,  Plants containing
including requirements for location, ventilation, room genes from exotic
integrity and security infectious agents
 Mycobacterium bovis
NO current facilities exist to accommodate risk group
4 agents at Oklahoma State University.