Which organization or document is primarily associated with establishing biosafety levels for work with infectious agents?

Which organization or document is primarily associated with establishing biosafety levels for work with infectious agents?

• A. Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories
• B. Guide to the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals
• C. U.S. Government Principles for the Utilization and Care of Vertebrate Animals Used in Testing, Research, and Training
• D. Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Answer: (A)

Biosafety levels are a graded set of containment requirements used when working with infectious agents, matching the level of risk to appropriate practices, equipment, and facility design. The document most closely associated with establishing and detailing these levels is the Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL), published by the CDC and NIH. It defines four containment levels (BSL-1 through BSL-4) and lays out the specific practices, safety equipment, engineering controls, and facility features required at each level, along with guidance on choosing the appropriate level for different agents. This guidance serves as the standard reference institutions rely on to protect personnel, the public, and the environment. The other options focus on animal care or general workplace safety and do not establish the specific biosafety levels for infectious agents.

Biosafety levels are a graded set of containment requirements used when working with infectious agents, matching the level of risk to appropriate practices, equipment, and facility design. The document most closely associated with establishing and detailing these levels is the Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL), published by the CDC and NIH. It defines four containment levels (BSL-1 through BSL-4) and lays out the specific practices, safety equipment, engineering controls, and facility features required at each level, along with guidance on choosing the appropriate level for different agents. This guidance serves as the standard reference institutions rely on to protect personnel, the public, and the environment. The other options focus on animal care or general workplace safety and do not establish the specific biosafety levels for infectious agents.