Biological Safety Current Topics
Select Agents and Toxins List
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has identified 68 biological agents and toxins that have the potential to pose severe threats. To learn more, visit the Select Agents and Toxins list.
NIH Guidelines
The National Institute of Health (NIH) has guidelines to specify the biosafety practices and containment principles for constructing and handling:
- recombinant nucleic acid molecules,
- synthetic nucleic acid molecules, including those that are chemically or otherwise modified but can base pair with naturally occurring nucleic acid molecules,
- cells, organisms, and viruses containing such molecules.
To learn more about the guidelines, click the link.
Mold Management Plan
Concern about indoor exposure to mold has been increasing as the public becomes aware that exposure to mold can cause a variety of health effects and symptoms, including allergic reactions. This plan presents guidelines for the prevention and remediation/cleanup of mold and moisture problems in facilities at WPI, including measures designed to protect the health of building occupants and remediation workers.
Online Biological Safety Training
Biological Safety & Bloodborne Pathogens (BBP) Safety Training is required by WPI for those who are working with biological agents, bloodborne pathogens, or any Other Potentially Infectious Material (OPIM) in a research or teaching laboratory.
Bloodborne Pathogens
The goal of the Bloodborne Pathogen Standard is to establish guidelines for organizations to develop a program providing information, training and equipment to protect individuals from occupational exposures to blood or other potentially infectious materials.