Janosko Krisztina, Holbrook Michael R, Adams Ricky, Barr Jason, Bollinger Laura, Newton Je T'aime, Ntiforo Corrie, Coe Linda, Wada Jiro, Pusl Daniela, Jahrling Peter B, Kuhn Jens H, Lackemeyer Matthew G
Integrated Research Facility at Frederick, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Environmental Health and Safety, Biological and Chemical Safety Program, University of Texas Medical Branch.
J Vis Exp. 2016 Oct 3(116):52317. doi: 10.3791/52317.
Biosafety level 4 (BSL-4) suit laboratories are specifically designed to study high-consequence pathogens for which neither infection prophylaxes nor treatment options exist. The hallmarks of these laboratories are: custom-designed airtight doors, dedicated supply and exhaust airflow systems, a negative-pressure environment, and mandatory use of positive-pressure ("space") suits. The risk for laboratory specialists working with highly pathogenic agents is minimized through rigorous training and adherence to stringent safety protocols and standard operating procedures. Researchers perform the majority of their work in BSL-2 laboratories and switch to BSL-4 suit laboratories when work with a high-consequence pathogen is required. Collaborators and scientists considering BSL-4 projects should be aware of the challenges associated with BSL-4 research both in terms of experimental technical limitations in BSL-4 laboratory space and the increased duration of such experiments. Tasks such as entering and exiting the BSL-4 suit laboratories are considerably more complex and time-consuming compared to BSL-2 and BSL-3 laboratories. The focus of this particular article is to address basic biosafety concerns and describe the entrance and exit procedures for the BSL-4 laboratory at the NIH/NIAID Integrated Research Facility at Fort Detrick. Such procedures include checking external systems that support the BSL-4 laboratory, and inspecting and donning positive-pressure suits, entering the laboratory, moving through air pressure-resistant doors, and connecting to air-supply hoses. We will also discuss moving within and exiting the BSL-4 suit laboratories, including using the chemical shower and removing and storing positive-pressure suits.
生物安全4级（BSL-4）防护服实验室是专门为研究尚无感染预防措施或治疗方案的高后果病原体而设计的。这些实验室的特点是：定制设计的气密门、专门的进排气流系统、负压环境以及强制使用正压（“太空”）防护服。通过严格的培训以及遵守严格的安全规程和标准操作程序，将从事高致病性病原体研究的实验室专家所面临的风险降至最低。研究人员大部分工作在BSL-2实验室进行，只有在需要研究高后果病原体时才会转至BSL-4防护服实验室。考虑开展BSL-4项目的合作者和科学家应意识到，BSL-4研究在BSL-4实验室空间的实验技术限制以及此类实验时间延长方面都存在挑战。与BSL-2和BSL-3实验室相比，进出BSL-4防护服实验室等任务要复杂得多且耗时更长。本文的重点是解决基本的生物安全问题，并描述位于德特里克堡的国立卫生研究院/国家过敏和传染病研究所综合研究设施中BSL-4实验室的进出程序。此类程序包括检查支持BSL-4实验室的外部系统、检查并穿戴正压防护服、进入实验室、穿过耐压门以及连接供气软管。我们还将讨论在BSL-4防护服实验室内移动及离开的过程，包括使用化学淋浴以及脱下并存放正压防护服。
