A biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory is a facility that contains biological hazards at levels that are considered safe for the research scientists working in them. A BSL-3 lab has special equipment, containment procedures, and strict rules to protect researchers from possible exposure to pathogens that could cause disease.
A BSL-3 laboratory is a lab that handles biological hazards. These labs are used to study diseases that can be transmitted through direct contact with an infected person, such as measles and chickenpox, or through the air, such as Ebola and smallpox.
In order to protect everyone inside it from accidental infection, researchers must wear protective gear when entering a biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory. This includes a gown and gloves; face shield if it's not too hot; eye protection; and shoe covers.
Biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) is the highest level of biological containment. BSL-3 laboratories are used to study dangerous infectious agents and research into new vaccines, drugs, diagnostics and procedures that may be needed to treat these diseases.
Biosafety level 3 labs (BSL-3) are the most common type of lab in the U.S. They are equipped to handle biological hazards, including bacterial, fungal and viral agents that may be dangerous if mishandled (or if an accident occurs).
Biosafety level 4 labs (BSL-4) are specifically designed for work with pathogens known to cause serious or potentially lethal disease in humans. Because these agents have high infectivity and mortality rates and no proven treatment options, they can only be handled by trained professionals working under high containment conditions. In addition to being highly contagious, they may also be extremely virulent – meaning they have a high potential of causing severe illness or death.
Biosafety level 2 laboratories (BSL-2) handle less dangerous pathogens than those found in BSL-4 facilities but still require extensive safety protocols due to their potential to cause harm if not handled properly.
Working in a BSL-3 lab is not as safe as it seems. There are inherent risks to working in this kind of laboratory environment, including potential exposure to pathogens that could cause life-threatening illness, severe illness, or death.
To minimize these risks, you must follow all rules and procedures for working safely with infectious materials. You need to wear protective clothing (face mask and eye protection), gloves and a respirator when dealing with potentially contaminated materials.
If you're a scientist studying viruses, bacteria and other microorganisms, then a BSL-3 lab is the place for you. BSL-3 labs are used to study diseases that affect humans, animals and plants. They're also used to help find ways to prevent these diseases from spreading.
BSL-3 labs are considered low risk, and BSL-4 labs are considered high risk.
These levels of protection are based on the types of diseases being studied, and the risks they pose to people working in or near the lab. BSL-3 facilities deal only with non-contagious agents that can be transmitted by droplet (breathing) or contact with infected materials, such as HIV and hepatitis B virus (HBV). If you were exposed to these viruses outside a lab, your chances of becoming ill would be very low.
BSL-4 works involve highly infectious agents that cause severe disease or death without treatment but cannot easily pass from person to person through casual contact—such as Ebola virus (EBOV), Marburg virus (MARV), Lassa fever virus (LASFV), and Variola major virus (VARV)—for which there is no treatment beyond supportive care.
A BSL-3 laboratory's primary purpose is to study viruses. These labs also sample and test other infectious agents, like bacteria and parasites. The list of diseases studied in a BSL-3 lab is long and includes:
The Rift Valley fever virus
You can work safely in a BLS-3 laboratory by following all rules and procedures. Don't touch anything unless you are wearing gloves, don't eat or drink in the lab, and always follow your supervisor's instructions. If you have questions about these rules or others, ask your supervisor.
Following all the rules and procedures will help you work safely in a BSL-3 lab. You should also be familiar with all chemicals that you work with, as well as any hazards associated with them. Working safely means staying alert at all times, knowing where emergency equipment is located (and how to use it), and making sure that if anything goes wrong, everyone leaves immediately without hesitation or panic! If you follow these guidelines, then working in a BSL-3 lab won't be too bad - there aren't many things worse than having an accident while doing research
