From Our Partners
Monday, July 4, 2022
News on Pathogens and Preparedness
Global Biodefense
  • Featured
  • COVID-19
  • Funding
  • Directory
  • Jobs
  • Events
  • Subscribe
No Result
View All Result
  • Featured
  • COVID-19
  • Funding
  • Directory
  • Jobs
  • Events
  • Subscribe
No Result
View All Result
Global Biodefense
No Result
View All Result
Home Biosecurity

Submit Comments on Draft Policy Statement for BSL-4 Laboratory Verification

by Global Biodefense Staff
February 6, 2022
BSL-4 Laboratory at USAMRIID

Researcher working in a high-containment laboratory at USAMRIID.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announces the opening of a docket to obtain comment on a draft policy statement regarding Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4)/Animal Biosafety Level 4 (ABSL-4) verification requirements.

The policy statement, once finalized, will assist individuals and entities in verifying that the facility design parameters and operational procedures, including heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, in BSL-4 and/or ABLS-4 laboratories are functioning as intended to meet the biosafety sufficiency requirement in the HHS/CDC select agent regulations.

HHS/CDC is requesting public comment on the draft policy statement on BSL-4/ABSL-4 laboratory verifications standards, including HVAC, to aid individuals and entities in verifying that these laboratories are properly functioning.

The public may submit comments by March 21, 2022.

For entities that possess select agents and toxins, the HHS select agent and toxin regulations (42 CFR part 73) require that “biosafety and containment procedures must be sufficient to contain the select agent or toxin ( e.g., physical structure and features of the entity, and operational and procedural safeguards)” (42 CFR 73.12(b)). BSL-4 and ABSL-4 laboratory facility specifications and operational procedures are used for work with dangerous and exotic biological agents that could easily be aerosol transmitted within the laboratory, cause severe to fatal disease in humans, and typically do not have available vaccines or treatments. Therefore, these laboratories must implement and maintain the highest level of biosafety precautions for containment.

Background

HHS/CDC reviews how entities that maintain BSL-4 and/or ABSL-4 laboratories have verified that the design and operational parameters, including HVAC, are functioning properly when determining if entities have met the sufficiency requirement in section 12(b) of the HHS select agent and toxin regulations. In developing a biosafety plan, an individual or entity should consider requirements found in the Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL) (42 CFR 73.12(c)). HHS/CDC has developed a draft policy statement for BSL-4 and ABSL-4 laboratory verification based on the standards found in the 6th edition of the BMBL:

• BSL-4 D16(a): The ventilation system is designed to maintain the laboratory at negative pressure to surrounding areas and to provide differential pressure or directional airflow as appropriate between adjacent areas within the laboratory.

• ABSL-4 D16(a): The supply and exhaust components of the ventilation system are designed to maintain the ABSL-4 facility at negative pressure to surrounding areas and to provide differential pressure or directional airflow as appropriate between adjacent areas within the facility.

• BSL-4 D20: The facility design parameters and operational procedures are documented. The facility is tested to verify that the design and operational parameters have been met prior to operation. Facilities are also re-tested annually or after significant modification to ensure operational parameters are maintained. Verification criteria are modified, as necessary, by operational experience.

• ABSL-4 D21: The ABSL-4 facility design parameters and operational procedures are documented. The facility is tested to verify that the design and operational parameters have been met prior to operation. Facilities are also re-tested annually or after significant modification to ensure operational parameters are maintained. Verification criteria are modified, as necessary, by operational experience.

Source: Federal Register

From Our Partners
Tags: BiosafetyBSL-4Editor PickSelect Agents

Related Posts

Dual Use Research of Concern: NIH to Host Stakeholder Engagement Meeting on Oversight Policies
Biosecurity

Dual Use Research of Concern: NIH to Host Stakeholder Engagement Meeting on Oversight Policies

June 14, 2022
Supplemental Funding for Research at NIAID Regional Biocontainment Laboratories
Biosecurity

Supplemental Funding for Research at NIAID Regional Biocontainment Laboratories

May 5, 2022
masked medical laboratory technician waits on samples to process in a biocontainment lab
Biosecurity

Design Phase Kicks Off for New $750M Wadsworth Public Health Laboratory

May 1, 2022
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Opens Grant Program to Shore Up Avian Flu Biosecurity
Biosecurity

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Opens Grant Program to Shore Up Avian Flu Biosecurity

April 13, 2022
Load More

Latest News

Poliovirus Detected in London Sewage: Response Measures Emphasize Wastewater Surveillance and Vaccination Gaps

Poliovirus Detected in London Sewage: Response Measures Emphasize Wastewater Surveillance and Vaccination Gaps

June 22, 2022
Monkeypox Diagnostics: CDC Authorizes Five Commercial Lab Companies

Monkeypox Diagnostics: CDC Authorizes Five Commercial Lab Companies

June 22, 2022
UK Health Security Agency Widens Monkeypox Vaccine Umbrella for Outbreak Control

UK Health Security Agency Widens Monkeypox Vaccine Umbrella for Outbreak Control

June 21, 2022
Influenza Research

New Way to Identify Influenza A Virus Lights Up When Specific Virus Targets are Present

June 20, 2022

Subscribe

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Subscribe

© 2022 Stemar Media Group LLC

No Result
View All Result
  • Featured
  • COVID-19
  • Funding
  • Directory
  • Jobs
  • Events
  • Subscribe

© 2022 Stemar Media Group LLC