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The Office of Environmental Health & Radiation Safety (EHRS) is a section of the Office of the Vice Provost for Research at the University of Pennsylvania.

Table 2
Summary of Recommended Biosafety Levels for Activities in Which
Experimentally or Naturally Infected Vertebrate Animals are Used

Complete descriptions of Biosafety Levels can be found in the
Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) 4th Edition

BSL	Agents	Practices	Safety Equipment (Primary Barriers)	Facilities (Secondary Barriers)
1	Not known to consistently cause disease in healthy adults	Standard animal care and management practices, including appropriate medical surveillance programs	As required for normal care of each species.	Standard animal facility No recirculation of exhaust air Directional air flow recommended Handwashing sink recommended
2	Associated with human disease. Hazard: percutaneous exposure, ingestion, mucous membrane exposure	ABSL-1 practices plus: Limited access Biohazard warning signs "Sharps" precautions Biosafety manual Decontamination of all infectious wastes and of animal cages prior to washing	ABSL-1 equipment plus primary barriers: containment equipment appropriate for animal species; PPE: laboratory coats, gloves, face and respiratory protection as needed.	ABSL-1 facility plus: Autoclave available Handwashing sink available in the animal room Mechanical cage washer used
3	Indigenous or exotic agents with potential for aerosol transmission; disease may have serious health effects.	ABSL-2 practices plus: Controlled access Decontamination of all waste Decontamination of clothing before laundering Cages decontaminated before bedding removed Disinfectant foot bath as needed	ABSL-2 equipment plus: Containment equipment for housing animals and cage dumping activities Class I or II BSCs available for manipulative procedures (inoculation, necropsy) that may create infectious aerosols. PPE: appropriate respiratory protection	ABSL-2 facility plus: Physical separation from access corridors Self–closing, double–door access Sealed penetrations Sealed windows Autoclave available in facility
4	Dangerous/exotic agents that pose high risk of life threatening disease; aerosol transmission, or related agents with unknown risk of transmission.	ABSL–3 practices plus: Entrance through change room where personal clothing is removed and laboratory clothing is put on; shower on exiting All wastes are decontaminated before removal from the facility	ABSL–3 equipment plus: Maximum containment equipment (i.e., Class III BSC or partial containment equipment in combination with full body, air–supplied positive–pressure personnel suit) used for all procedures and activities	ABSL–3 facility plus: Separate building or isolated zone Dedicated supply and exhaust, vacuum and decontamination systems Other requirements outlined in BMBL.