SARS-CoV-2 Biosafety and Biocontainment Research Guide
Activities/Materials Examples IBC-Related Actions Biosafety Requirements BSL-3 Virus isolation in cell culture Restricted activity. Contact Operational BSL-3 lab with personnel who Lab research activities Initial characterization of viral Biosafety Officer (BSO) directly have completed BSL-3 lab training through a involving the handling of the agents recovered in cultures of for information. recognized program and have been deemed SARS-CoV-2 virus or SARS-CoV-2 proficient by experienced BSL-3 laboratorians aerosol-generating Processing of large volume in conjunction with the BSO and BSL-3 Facility procedures with viable specimens known to contain Director. clinical specimens or tissues the virus known to contain the virus FACS/High Speed Cell Sorting BSL-2 with Centrifugation, vortexing or Submit IBC protocol or Facilities & biocontainment practices will be Enhancements pipetting of viable clinical amendment including any commensurate with those outlined in the UNL Aerosol-generating lab specimens (i.e. blood permits, SOPS and associated Biosafety Guidelines and the EHS SOPs on activities with viable/unfixed components, nasal swabs, IRB protocols through NUgrant. Biocontainment Levels, Working in a Biosafety clinical specimens from sputum) collected from known Cabinet, Autoclave Operation and Use. known or strongly suspected or strongly suspected infected COVID+ individuals patients for research purposes. Concentration of environmental samples known or suspected to contain infectious virus or viral RNA (i.e untreated wastewater) BSL-2 Using automated instruments If activities will be carried out in a UNL research labs and associated activities that Lab research activities with and analyzers UNL lab research space, then submit need to carry out activities under BSL-2 conditions materials that only involve Staining and microscopic an IBC amendment or new protocol need the following: direct handling of non- analysis of fixed smears including the following details: An approved registration with the IBC viable/fixed clinical Examination of bacterial What materials will be received Personnel who have completed EHS biosafety specimens from COVID+ cultures and from whom (if recombinant training and the PI/lab supervisor has individuals Pathologic examination and or pathogen-related synthetic documented their proficiency at carrying out processing of formalin-fixed or RNA/DNA, detail the genetic technical procedures under BSL-2 conditions. otherwise inactivated tissues elements and how they will be Lab space that is: Molecular analysis of extracted used) o restricted access and physically separated Risk assessment grid based on: nucleic acid preparations What activities will take place, for from carpeted areas and food/drink areas; CDC’s FAQ about Final packaging of specimens what purpose, and for how long o free of fabric furniture, plants and animals Laboratory Biosafety and for transport Where the activities will take not associated with research; SARS-CoV-2 Using inactivated specimens, place o equipped with and handwashing sink in the Who will be doing the work space and an eyewash in close proximity; CDC/NIH Biosafety in such as specimens in nucleic Identify any aerosol-generating o equipped with a method for biowaste Microbiological and acid extraction buffer procedures (centrifugation, decontamination; Biomedical Laboratories, Performing electron sonication, etc.) and what o equipped with a BSC, centrifuge with 5th ed. microscopic studies with glutaraldehyde-fixed grids measures will be taken to sealed rotors or any other containment ABSA “Considerations for contain aerosols (i.e., carrying equipment as determined through biorisk Handling Potential SARS- out procedures in a biosafety assessment. CoV-2 Samples” cabinet).
Prepared by UNL EHS Biosafety & the UNL Institutional Biosafety Committee 8/2020