Biological Safety

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) published revisions to the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules (NIH Guidelines). The published changes include specific considerations and requirements for conducting research involving gene drive modified organisms (GDMOs) and stipulates that a minimum of biosafety level 2 (BSL-2) is required for conducting research with GDMOs.

EH&S updated the Site-Specific Bloodborne Pathogen (BBP) Exposure Control Plan template in congruence with Washington state BBP regulations. This update includes an expanded list of personal protective equipment (PPE) and engineering controls, a section on sharps safety, and a personnel training log.

Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S) recently identified that the chemical integrator 3M Comply™ SteriGage™ used for steam sterilization of biohazardous waste is no longer manufactured or available for purchase by the 3M company or other vendors. The University of Washington (UW) received approval from Public Health – Seattle & King County to use four other chemical integrators.

The four newly approved chemical integrators are: