Concepedia

TLDR

In the U.S., preventing injuries and occupational infections in laboratories has long been a concern, and while the CDC and NIH’s Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL‑5) addresses biosafety, it does not cover the day‑to‑day operations of diagnostic laboratories in human and animal medicine. The panel recommended developing science‑based biosafety guidelines specifically for diagnostic laboratories, to be made broadly available. In 2008, CDC convened a Blue Ribbon Panel of laboratory representatives to review diagnostic laboratory biosafety and produce guidelines that supplement BMBL‑5 and promote a culture of safety. The guidelines are recommendations—not requirements—that reflect current science and sound judgment to foster a safe working environment for all laboratorians. The guidelines are published in English.

Abstract

Prevention of injuries and occupational infections in U.S. laboratories has been a concern for many years. CDC and the National Institutes of Health addressed the topic in their publication Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, now in its 5th edition (BMBL-5). BMBL-5, however, was not designed to address the day-to-day operations of diagnostic laboratories in human and animal medicine. In 2008, CDC convened a Blue Ribbon Panel of laboratory representatives from a variety of agencies, laboratory organizations, and facilities to review laboratory biosafety in diagnostic laboratories. The members of this panel recommended that biosafety guidelines be developed to address the unique operational needs of the diagnostic laboratory community and that they be science based and made available broadly. These guidelines promote a culture of safety and include recommendations that supplement BMBL-5 by addressing the unique needs of the diagnostic laboratory. They are not requirements but recommendations that represent current science and sound judgment that can foster a safe working environment for all laboratorians. Language: en