Biohazards classification

Infected Animals In addition, HHS has a separate classification and standards for work with infected animals. There are four animal biosafety levels (ABSL). It follows the same biohazard safety structure as the classification scheme for infectious agents in general. However, there are additional details related to woik with animals, see Table 26-4. 

TABLE 26-2 Classification of Biohazardous Agents by Risk Group ... 

The classification of biological risk is defined by Ordinance 3.214/78 of the Ministry of Labor and Employment, in its regulatory standards and job security (Brasil, 2002). Biohazards are represented by bacteria, fungi, parasites, viruses, among others. It is known that occupational exposure to potentially contaminated biological materials constitute a serious risk to health professionals in their workplaces. 

In this classification the basic facility is used for work with the least hazardous agents and the total containment facility is used for the most hazardous agents. For recombinant DNA research, the biosafety levels of these facilities have been abbreviated as BLl, BL2, BL3, and BL4 (previously called PI to P4) these terms are also used to refer to the corresponding facilities for other kinds of biohazard research (see Section 11.4). Table 10.1 indicates the level of facility that is appropriate for work with cancer viruses, recombinant DNA, and human pathogens. 

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