Note from Rutgers Environmental Health and Safety Office
"At Rutgers University, we have strict protocols in terms of the materials that are brought outside of our containment facilities for select agents and other pathogens. Many procedures require that materials be inactivated and then downgraded from biosafety level three (BSL3) to biosafety level two (BSL2) for further processing or analysis. Before researchers can do this, they must write a standard operating procedure and explain the method by which they will remove samples from the facility. This SOP is written only after the main project has been approved by the Institutional Biosafety Committee. Before the SOP is finalize and approved, data documenting the inactivation of samples must be included with the final version of the SOP and approved by our BSL3 Risk Assessment Committee. The committee reviewing these procedures include senior researchers, laboratory administration and the biosafety officer/ Responsible Official. Additionally, every time samples are brought out of BSL3, the BSL3 Manager is notified."
