On 2008-02-07 10:01:18 -0500, "Cinthia Labrie" <labriec from inspection.gc.ca> said:
> I am also looking for the same information about E. coli 25922,
> specifically why USA companies like ATCC has classified it as a level 1
> organism.
>> Thank you.
>> Maerna
I'm not sure what other information you are looking for. The biosafety
level is determined by the US Public Health Service. Here is a
definition of the biosafety levels posted on the www.atcc.org web page:
Biosafety Levels
ATCC products are sent with the condition that you are responsible for
their safe storage, handling, and use. ATCC is not liable for damages
or injuries resulting from receipt and/or use of ATCC materials.
ATCC has classified cultures and related products by biosafety level
(BSL) for purposes of packaging for safe shipment. The classification
is based on assessment of the potential risk using U.S. Public Health
Service guidelines, background information on the material provided by
the depositor and review of the material by ATCC scientists familiar
with the material. Each item is evaluated individually and in some
cases the ATCC assigned biosafety level is more restrictive. Those
items in BSL-1 are not known to cause disease in healthy adult humans.
Materials in BSL-2 present a moderate risk and should be handled under
BSL-2 guidelines. Handling of BSL-3 strains requires the use of BSL-3
laboratory practices and containment. All infectious materials should
be handled under the supervision of a competent and knowledgeable
scientist. It is ultimately the recipient's and their institution's
responsibility to determine the biosafety level and work with the
material under the appropriate containment for the laboratory
manipulations being performed.
The Web site for the CDC's Office of Health and Safety has complete
descriptions of the biosafety levels in the text of the publication
Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, (BMBL) 5th
Edition (HHS Publication No. (CDC) 93-8395. U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and
National Institutes of Health; U.S. Government Printing Office:
Washington DC; 2007). It is available in its entirety online.
Information on agent risk assessment may be found in the Agent Summary
Statements of this publication.
--
John Gentile
Newsletter editor
Rhode Island Apple Group
