(BSL) Biosafety Level Laboratories, Their Levels, and Equipment

Biosafety refers to safety standards established to protect laboratory personnel and the environment. It includes measures that can be taken to ensure that biotechnological studies do not adversely affect nature or human life, and to eliminate risks or keep potential damage under control in case of risk situations.

The materials used in laboratories, laboratory designs, and the qualifications and training of personnel are defined in accordance with specific standards.

To minimize risks in laboratories where work involving potential biological threats is carried out and to ensure protection against such threats, the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified laboratory safety levels into four main risk groups.

Based on these risk groups, biosafety level standards define the precautions, infrastructure requirements, and equipment to be used in laboratories.

These laboratories are suitable for working with agents that pose no or minimal risk to human health. There is no mandatory requirement for special equipment or devices for this risk group. However, personnel working in these laboratories must pay attention to personal hygiene. Personal protective equipment for hygiene purposes (gloves, lab coats, goggles, masks, etc.) must be available. Consumption of food and beverages in laboratories is strictly prohibited. Waste generated after work must be decontaminated using chemical agents. Work surfaces must be resistant to acids, alkalis, and heat. Work areas should be cleaned regularly. Entry to and exit from laboratories must be controlled, and access should be restricted to authorized personnel only. Authorized personnel must be trained in laboratory practices and hygiene. There is no requirement for the laboratory to be isolated from the building. For these reasons, Biosafety Level 1 laboratories are generally used for educational purposes.

In these laboratories, all rules and safety measures applicable to Biosafety Level 1 (BSL-1) are also valid. In addition, extra safety measures and equipment are required. Biosafety Level 2 laboratories are used for working with agents that pose a moderate risk to human health and have limited potential for spread. During work, the laboratory must be closed to the outside. The laboratory design must be different from other units. A biological hazard sign must be displayed at the laboratory entrance. Authorized personnel must receive appropriate training to work with moderate-risk agents. Laboratory clothing worn by personnel must be separate from their outside clothing and must not be stored in the same locker. Used clothing and equipment must be autoclaved for decontamination. The work area must be designed to minimize contamination risk and should be regularly disinfected with chemicals. The laboratory must contain a Class I or Class II biosafety cabinet equipped with a HEPA filter. If sharp or piercing instruments are used, necessary safety precautions must be taken by authorized personnel.

In these laboratories, the conditions of Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) apply, along with additional infrastructure, advanced techniques, and enhanced safety measures. BSL-3 laboratories are used for work involving airborne pathogens that pose a potentially lethal risk. Whenever possible, the laboratory should be located in a separate building or in areas with limited or no human traffic. Laboratory entrances must be double-doored to prevent the release of infectious agents into the external environment. Air intake and exhaust systems must be HEPA-filtered, and laboratories must operate under negative pressure ventilation. Laboratory access must be controlled by a card access system, and entry must be restricted to authorized personnel only.

If experimental animal units are present within the laboratory, the cage systems used to house animals must be suitable for BSL-3 laboratories. Animal cages should be capable of being directly connected to the ventilation system to ensure full quarantine. Animal feed, water bottles, cages, and filters must be sterilized using an autoclave. The autoclave used must have a double-door design and a Bioseal feature on the contaminated side, with one side used for loading contaminated materials and the other for unloading sterilized materials.

BSL-3 laboratories must be equipped with a HEPA-filtered Class II biosafety cabinet, preferably with a UV decontamination feature. All work must be performed inside these cabinets, which should be positioned in a way that does not disrupt airflow. All equipment used must be sterilized using an autoclave.

These laboratories represent the highest level of biosafety and are used for work involving highly infectious and lethal microorganisms that pose a severe risk to humans and other living organisms. All conditions and rules applicable to Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) are fully valid. In addition, laboratories must be located in a separate building or in a completely isolated environment. Personnel must wear positive-pressure protective suits while working. Entry and exit of personnel must be recorded. Chemical and air showers must be available at laboratory exits. After leaving the laboratory, personnel must remove protective clothing, take a shower, and have their clothing autoclaved for sterilization.

BSL-4 laboratories must be equipped with Class III biosafety cabinets. After work is completed, all materials used must be disinfected or autoclaved. The laboratory must contain a quarantine room, and personnel must be vaccinated against relevant microorganisms.

As Labor İldam, we offer a wide range of product groups for BSL and ABSL Laboratories.

We are the official distributor in Turkey for Yamato Scientific and Steelco brands. Our product range includes dry heat and steam sterilizers. Our autoclaves offer various features such as vertical top-loading design, single- or double-door options, and sliding or hinged doors.

To select autoclaves suitable for your laboratory; you can review our products and request a presentation via the Autoclaves link.

We are the official distributor in Turkey for Clean Air, Haier, and Telstar brands. We offer various options such as motorized glass, vacuum port connections, and UV decontamination.

To select Class II Biosafety and Laminar Flow Cabinets suitable for your laboratory; you can review our products and request a presentation via the Class II Biosafety and Laminar Flow Cabinets link.

Our Steelco product range includes laboratory animal equipment washing machines in various sizes. A key feature of these machines is that the washing chamber is made of 316L stainless steel, while the outer casing is made of 304 stainless steel. Our washers offer drying options, double-door configurations, and RS-232 ports. Washing temperatures can reach up to 85°C. We also provide tunnel-type washing solutions. Additionally, our Steelco product range includes autoclaves designed for pass-through use, suitable for BSL-3 and BSL-4 laboratories, with one side for loading contaminated materials and the other for unloading sterilized materials.

For ABSL laboratories, we also offer Steelco clean bedding dispensers and shredder-equipped dirty waste stations. Clean bedding dispensers fill animal cages while protecting users from allergens such as wood dust generated during filling. Shredder-equipped dirty waste stations grind cage waste to facilitate safe disposal.

To select animal cage bottle washing systems suitable for your laboratory; you can review our products and request a presentation via the Animal Cage Bottle Washing Systems link.

We offer Animal Care Systems laboratory animal cage systems suitable for ABSL-2 and ABSL-3 use. These systems operate with HEPA-filtered, carbon-module ventilation units (odor and allergen control) for ABSL-2, and negative-pressure systems that can be directly connected to the ventilation system for ABSL-3. A unique feature of these systems is their rotating carousel design, allowing users to access all cages from a single position, ensuring minimal space requirements and maximum animal capacity.

To select rodent cages suitable for your laboratory; you can review our products and request a presentation via the Rodent Cages link.