Biosafety Levels

Biosafety Level 2 Laboratories

Tests agents that can cause human and animal disease but, under normal circumstances, are unlikely to be a serious hazard to laboratory workers. Risk of spread is limited and effective treatment and preventive measures are available.

Biosafety Level 3 Laboratories

Here we deal with agents that can cause serious human or animal disease or can produce serious economic consequences. However, these agents do not spread by casual contact from one person to another, and can be successfully treated. Staff change into laboratory clothing prior to entering the laboratories and must shower before leaving.

Biosafety Level 3 Insectory

Unique to Canada, it houses the mosquito species that carries the West Nile virus, enabling scientists to study the mechanisms of virus transmission and possible genetic means of eradicating that species.

Biosafety Level 4 Laboratories

This laboratory is designed for work with exotic and dangerous agents that usually produce very serious and often fatal human and animal diseases. These agents are transmitted readily from person to person or from animal to human (and vice versa) through the air or casual contact. Researchers must follow the same entry and exit protocols as level 3. In addition, they wear positive air pressure protective suits connected to filtered air lines. The suits are chemically treated after each session and always remain in the secured area of the laboratory.

The levels 3 and 4 containment laboratories are specially constructed using "box-within-a-box" negative air pressure zone principles. In addition, specific building materials and techniques have been used to ensure all systems and surfaces are sealed.

Biorepository

Highly secure, the biorepository has the capacity to contain approximately 250,000 samples of genomic DNA. The current collection is largely from Alzheimer disease patients. This collection presents a unique research opportunity for the study of how Alzheimer disease progresses, the identification of sensitive biological markers to estimate risk and the development of novel treatments.

More Information

The National Microbiology Laboratory operates Canada's only Biosafety Level Four (BSL4) laboratory.

Canada's already excellent capacity to respond quickly to a localized or widespread disease outbreak has been greatly enhanced as a result of the establishment of the BSL4 laboratory at the NML.

The BSL 4 laboratory enabled the expansion of research and diagnostic programs into crucial new areas such as research into viral hemorrhagic fever viruses such as the Ebola virus, Marburg virus and Lassa fever virus as well as into previously unrecognised diseases which are emerging from other areas of the globe and which may be a risk to Canadians in the future.

The work is a constant challenge due to evolving organisms, newly identified strains of disease, technological development, and pressure for rapid results.

The BSL4 laboratory is kept up-to-date, consistent, and accurate. Laboratory staff are required to stay current and up-to-date in their fields through academic liaison, work with international centres, consultation with other Canadian experts, peer-reviewed publishing, and conference presentations of their work.

The scientists and other personnel working in the BSL4 program continue to
contribute significantly to worldwide diagnostic and scientific research
objectives.