Editing Biosafety (section)

==In medicine, healthcare settings and laboratories==
{{See also|Biosafety level}}

Biosafety, in medicine and health care settings, specifically refers to proper handling of organs or tissues from biological origin, or genetic therapy products, viruses with respect to the environment,<ref>{{cite web|title=Definition of BIOSAFETY|url=http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biosafety|access-date=October 8, 2016|archive-date=November 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108150225/https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biosafety|url-status=live}}</ref> to ensure the safety of health care workers, researchers, lab staff, patients, and the general public. Laboratories are assigned a biosafety level numbered 1 through 4 based on their potential biohazard risk level.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.biosafety.be/RA/Class/ClassINT.html#UNITED_STATES|access-date=October 9, 2016|title=International classification schemes for micro-organisms based on their biological risks # UNITED STATES|date=January 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161015205833/http://www.biosafety.be/RA/Class/ClassINT.html#UNITED_STATES|archive-date=2016-10-15|url-status=dead}}</ref> The employing authority, through the laboratory director, is responsible for ensuring that there is adequate surveillance of the health of laboratory personnel.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|title=Laboratory Biosafety Manual - Third Edition|url=https://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/biosafety/en/Biosafety7.pdf|website=World Health Organization|publisher=WHO|access-date=18 October 2016|archive-date=12 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712171806/http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/biosafety/en/Biosafety7.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The objective of such surveillance is to monitor for occupationally acquired diseases.<ref name=CDCMan/> The World Health Organization attributes human error and poor technique<ref name=CDCMan/> as the primary cause of mishandling of biohazardous materials.

Biosafety is also becoming a global concern and requires multilevel resources and international collaboration to monitor, prevent and correct accidents from unintended and malicious release and also to prevent that bioterrorists get their hands-on biologics sample to create biologic weapons of mass destruction.  Even people outside of the health sector needs to be involved as in the case of the Ebola outbreak the impact that it had on businesses and travel required that private sectors, international banks together pledged more than $2 billion to combat the epidemic.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/t/us/2015/237560.htm|title=Biosecurity in the Time of Ebola|access-date=2017-06-24|archive-date=2019-11-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108150218/https://2009-2017.state.gov/t/us/2015/237560.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> The bureau of international Security and nonproliferation (ISN) is responsible for managing a broad range of U.S. nonproliferation policies, programs, agreements, and initiatives, and biological weapon is one their concerns
Biosafety has its risks and benefits. All stakeholders must try to find a balance between cost-effectiveness of safety measures and use evidence-based safety practices and recommendations, measure the outcomes and consistently reevaluate the potential benefits that biosafety represents for human health.
Biosafety level designations are based on a composite of the design features, construction, containment facilities, equipment, practices and operational procedures required for working with agents from the various risk groups.<ref name=CDCMan/>

Classification of biohazardous materials is subjective and the risk assessment is determined by the individuals most familiar with the specific characteristics of the organism.<ref name=CDCMan/> There are several factors taken into account when assessing an organism and the classification process.

*Risk Group 1: (no or low individual and community risk) A [[microorganism]] that is unlikely to cause human or animal disease.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.biosafety.be/RA/Class/ClassINT.html#UNITED_STATES|title=International Classification Systems for Micro-organisms|last=SBB©2003|access-date=2016-11-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161015205833/http://www.biosafety.be/RA/Class/ClassINT.html#UNITED_STATES|archive-date=2016-10-15|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*Risk Group 2 : (moderate individual risk, low community risk) A [[pathogen]] that can cause human or animal disease but is unlikely to be a serious hazard to laboratory workers, the community, livestock or the environment. Laboratory exposures may cause serious infection, but effective treatment and preventive measures are available and the risk of spread of infection is limited.<ref name=CDCMan>{{cite web|title=Laboratory Biosafety Manual|url=https://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/biosafety/en/Biosafety7.pdf|website=World Health Organization|publisher=World Health Organization|access-date=8 October 2016|archive-date=12 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180712171806/http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/biosafety/en/Biosafety7.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
*Risk Group 3 : (high individual risk, low community risk) A pathogen that usually causes serious human or animal disease but does not ordinarily spread from one infected individual to another. Effective treatment and preventive measures are available.<ref name=CDCMan/>
*Risk Group 4 : (high individual and community risk) A pathogen that usually causes serious human or animal disease and that can be readily transmitted from one individual to another, directly or indirectly. Effective treatment and preventive measures are not usually available.<ref name=CDCMan/>

See World Health Organization Biosafety Laboratory Guidelines (4th edition, 2020): [https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240011311 World Health Organization Biosafety Laboratory Guidelines]

Investigations have shown that there are hundreds of unreported biosafety accidents, with laboratories self-policing the handling of biohazardous materials and lack of reporting.<ref>{{cite web|author1=Young A|author2=Penzenstadler N, TODAY|title=Inside America's secretive biolabs|work=USA Today|date=May 28, 2015|url=https://www.usatoday.com/longform/news/2015/05/28/biolabs-pathogens-location-incidents/26587505/|access-date=September 1, 2016|archive-date=November 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151119211646/http://www.usatoday.com/longform/news/2015/05/28/biolabs-pathogens-location-incidents/26587505/|url-status=live}}</ref> Poor record keeping, improper disposal, and mishandling biohazardous materials result in increased risks of biochemical contamination for both the public and environment.<ref>{{cite web|title=White House issues report on improving biosafety at federal labs|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-whitehouse-biosafety-idUSKCN0SN34F20151029|date=October 29, 2015|access-date=September 3, 2016|first=Julie|last=Steenhuysen|archive-date=November 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108150221/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-whitehouse-biosafety-idUSKCN0SN34F20151029|url-status=live}}</ref>

Along with the precautions taken during the handling process of biohazardous materials, the World Health Organization recommends: 
Staff training should always include information on safe methods for highly hazardous procedures that are commonly encountered by all laboratory personnel, and which involve:<ref name=CDCMan/>
#Inhalation risks (i.e. aerosol production) when using loops, streaking agar plates,
#pipetting, making smears, opening cultures, taking blood/serum samples, centrifuging, etc.
#Ingestion risks when handling specimens, smears and cultures
#Risks of [[percutaneous]] exposures when using syringes and needles
#Bites and scratches when handling animals
#Handling of blood and other potentially hazardous pathological materials
#Decontamination and disposal of infectious material.