How many Biosafety Levels have been created to outline recommended biocontainment practices?

There are four Biosafety Levels (BSL) established to outline recommended biocontainment practices for handling infectious agents and biological materials. Each level is defined by a set of controls, procedures, and safety measures tailored to the risk associated with the pathogens being handled.

Biosafety Level 1 is suitable for work with well-characterized agents not known to cause disease in healthy humans. Level 2 includes agents that pose moderate hazards. Level 3 is for agents that may cause serious or potentially lethal disease through inhalation, and Level 4 is designated for the most dangerous and exotic agents that pose a high risk of aerosol transmission and for which there is no available treatment or vaccination.

By establishing these four levels, organizations can ensure that appropriate safety measures are in place to protect laboratory workers, the environment, and the public from potential risks associated with biological research.