Risk Assessment for Biological Agents in the Laboratory

Abstract

Risk assessments for using biological agents in the laboratory are qualitative rather than quantitative. A number of risk factors for performing the assessment are identified and discussed in terms of information needed and assessment. A process for performing a qualitative risk assessment for biological agents in the laboratory is presented with an example.

This article was presented at the 5^th National Symposium on Biosafety held in Atlanta, Georgia on January 17–20, 1998. The Symposium was sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Biological Safety Association (ABSA). Reprinted from Rational Basis for Biocontainment Proceedings, ABSA, pp. 56–65.