Risk Group and Biosafety Level
Classification of Infective Agents by Risk Group Pathogenicity Pathogenicity Infectious Dose Infectious Dose Mode of Transmission Mode of Transmission Host Range Host Range Availability of Effective Preventive Measures and Treatment Availability of Effective Preventive Measures and Treatment
Classification of Infective Agents by Risk Group Risk Group 1Risk Group 2Risk Group 3Risk Group 4 Severity of Disease unlikely to cause human or animal disease can cause disease, unlikely to be serious, effective treatment and preventive measures available can cause serious disease, does not ordinarily spread from one person to another, effective treatment and preventive measures usually available, exposure route: inhalation (often) likely to cause serious or lethal disease, can be readily transmitted from one individual to another, effective treatment and preventive measures are not usually available, transmission: direct, indirect, inhalation Host Rangehuman (healthy adult) and animals Individual Risk lowmoderate (potential hazard) high Community Risk low high
Classification of Containment by Biosafety Levels Practices and Procedures Practices and Procedures Containment Equipment (Primary Barriers) Containment Equipment (Primary Barriers) Containment Facility (Secondary Barriers) Containment Facility (Secondary Barriers) Note: CDC/NIH has 4 biosafety level classifications currently in use. Each level is appropriate for: Operations Performed Routes of Transmission (ingestion, inoculation, inhalation, mucous membrane exposure) Laboratory Function
Risk Group and Biosafety Level Classifications Not appropriate to use risk group or biosafety level when assessing toxins. Not appropriate to use risk group or biosafety level when assessing toxins. Can be found in the American Biological Safety Association website: Can be found in the American Biological Safety Association website: Risk Groups and Biosafety Levels are not always the same! Risk Groups and Biosafety Levels are not always the same!