Biosafety Level 2 with Enhanced Practices (BSL-2+) guidelines

Risk Group 2 (RG2) agents are those which are associated with human disease that is rarely serious and for which therapies and vaccines exist. Risk group 2 agents may be found in lab research operations that work with infectious microorganisms, as well as those that work with human or animal-derived body fluids, tissues and cells. In general, Biosafety level 2 (BSL-2) is the containment standard of practice for biological materials that may harbor a Risk Group 2 agent. For materials that may harbor a Risk Group 3 (RG3) agent (i.e., one associated with serious or lethal human disease for which medical interventions may be available; high individual risk but low community risk), Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) containment will be required if the agent is transmitted via inhalation or when required by health authorities. However, there are times when specific RG2 or RG3 agents (or materials that could contain these) may be handled at BSL-2 using enhanced practices in order to further limit the potential for personnel exposure and ensure a greater level of biosecurity. This containment level is often referred to as BSL-2+.

Specific basic research examples warranting BSL-2+ containment include:

• Some use of HIV, HBV or HCV, or patient samples containing these microorganisms.
• Use of any biological agent that requires BS2+ containment in accordance with a federal or state health authority permit (i.e., USDA APHIS, CDC, etc.)
• Use of any emerging infectious agent as determined by the Biosafety Officer & IBC Chair with input from the Principal Investigator

Principal Investigators can use this document that outlines the minimum standard of practice to be followed for BSL-2+ containment. It outlines the minimum standard of practice to be followed when lab activities have been approved by the GW Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) for BSL-2+ containment. Additional requirements may apply based on individual agent/activity circumstances.