Significance of High-Containment Biological Laboratories Performing Work During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Biosafety Level-3 and -4 Labs

Yeh K.B. Tabynov K. Parekh F.K. Mombo I. Parker K. Tabynov K. Bradrick S.S. Tseng A.S. Yang J.-R. Gardiner L. Olinger G. Setser B.
13 August 2021 Frontiers Media S.A.

Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
2021 #9

High containment biological laboratories (HCBL) are required for work on Risk Group 3 and 4 agents across the spectrum of basic, applied, and translational research. These laboratories include biosafety level (BSL)-3, BSL-4, animal BSL (ABSL)-3, BSL-3-Ag (agriculture livestock), and ABSL-4 laboratories. While SARS-CoV-2 is classified as a Risk Group 3 biological agent, routine diagnostic can be handled at BSL-2. Scenarios involving virus culture, potential exposure to aerosols, divergent high transmissible variants, and zoonosis from laboratory animals require higher BSL-3 measures. Establishing HCBLs especially those at BSL-4 is costly and needs continual investments of resources and funding to sustain labor, equipment, infrastructure, certifications, and operational needs. There are now over 50 BSL-4 laboratories and numerous BSL-3 laboratories worldwide. Besides technical and funding challenges, there are biosecurity and dual-use risks, and local community issues to contend with in order to sustain operations. Here, we describe case histories for distinct HCBLs: representative national centers for diagnostic and reference, nonprofit organizations. Case histories describe capabilities and assess activities during COVID-19 and include capacities, gaps, successes, and summary of lessons learned for future practice. © Copyright

biosecurity , BSL-3 , BSL-4 , COVID-19 , high containment biological laboratory

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MRIGlobal, Kansas City, MO, United States
International Center for Vaccinology, Kazakh National Agrarian Research University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
EpiPointe, Cary, NC, United States
International Center for Medical Research of Franceville (CIRMF), Franceville, Gabon
Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, United States
Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, Taipei, Taiwan
JRAD, Stafford, VA, United States

MRIGlobal
International Center for Vaccinology
EpiPointe
International Center for Medical Research of Franceville (CIRMF)
Department of Epidemiology
Taiwan Centers for Disease Control
JRAD

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