Biological Safety
The development of a university biological safety program is undertaken for essentially the same reasons as you would develop any safety program. Protection of the laboratory personnel and the environment is critical to all research and classroom activities involving biological agents. Increasing awareness and knowledge of biosafety issues and providing applicable training opportunities will develop and maintain safe work practices and promote exemplary laboratory operations.
The biosafety program at CMU has been designed to comply with federal, state and local regulations. Although aseptic techniques have long been established, the administration of biosafety programs are evolving along with cutting edge molecular techniques and protocols involving recombinant DNA technology. Institutional policies must be risk based, carefully assessed, and critically reviewed on a case by case basis. Principal Investigators must work closely with biosafety professionals to provide key information for novel research projects and to monitor changes that could potentially increase the risks. After the biological risks have been evaluated, approval is granted by the CMU Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) . Composed of diverse, knowledgeable and interested members within the university and surrounding community, the IBC members collectively evaluate the research to be sure the work can be conducted in the safest manner possible.
Barriers and Biological Safety Cabinets
Biosafety information
Commonly used acronyms
Acronyms A-H
ABSL: Animal Biosafety Level
APHL: Association of Public Health Laboratories
APHIS: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
BBP: Blood Borne Pathogens
BMBL: Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories
BSAT: Biological Select Agents and Toxins
BSC: Biosafety Cabinet
BSL: Biosafety Level
BSO: Biological Safety Officer
BPRP: Biological Personnel Reliability Program
CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
CFR: Code of Federal Regulations
DEFRA: Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs
DGR: Dangerous Goods Regulations
DHS: Department of Homeland Security
DHHS: Department of Health and Human Services
DOD: Department of Defense
DOE: Department of Energy
DOJ: Department of Justice
DOS: Department of State
DSAT: Division of Select Agents and Toxins
FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation
FDA: Food and Drug Administration
GMO: Genetically Modified Organism
HHS: Department of Health and Human Services
HSE: Health and Safety Executive
Acronyms I-P
IACUC: Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
IATA: International Air Transport Association
IBC: Institutional Biosafety Committee
IES: Investigative and Enforcement Services
LRN: Laboratory Response Network
MIOSHA: Michigan Occupation Health and Safety Administration
MMWRA: Michigan Medical Waste Regulatory Act
NBL: National Biocontainment Laboratories
NIAID: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
NIH: National Institutes of Health
NSABB: National Science Advisory Board for Biosecurity
NSF: National Sanitation Foundation
OBA Office of Biotechnology Activity
OIG Office of Inspector General
OPIM Other Potentially Infectious Material
ORSP Office of Research and Sponsored Programs
OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration
PBSL Plant Biosafety Level
PPE Personal Protective Equipment
PI Principal Investigator
Acronyms Q-Z
RBL: Regional Biocontainment Laboratory
RG: Risk Group
RM/EHS: Risk Management/Environmental Health and Safety
rDNA: Recombinant Deoxyribonucleic Acid
SAPO: Specified Animal Pathogen Order
TAMU: Texas A & M University
USAMRIID: U.S. Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases
USDA: United States Department of Agriculture
WHO: World Health Organization