Biosafety level

A specific combination of work practices, safety equipment, and facilities which are designed to minimize the exposure of workers and the environment to infectious agents.</P> The biosafety levels are: > >Level 1 -- This level applies to agents that do not ordinarily cause human disease.

>Level 2 -- This level is appropriate for agents that can cause human disease, but whose potential for transmission is limited.

>Level 3 -- This level applies to agents that may be transmitted by the respiratory route which can cause serious infection.

>Level 4 -- This level is used for the diagnosis of exotic agents that pose a high risk of life-threatening disease, which may be transmitted by the aerosol route and for which there is no vaccine or therapy.</LI></UL>