Frequently Asked Questions - The Regional Biocontainment Laboratory

1. What is a Regional Biocontainment Laboratory (RBL)?
Research on many infectious diseases requires a very specialized facility. The facility must be built to complex specifications for design, facilities, operations, maintenance, and operating procedures that ensure a high level of containment, or "biocontainment" since researchers are working with biological materials. The Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health provide containment guidelines, depending upon the types of biological materials under study. These range from biosafety levels 1 to 4 (BSL-1 to BSL-4). These requirements are designed to provide an environment that maintains safety for the research, the researchers and the adjacent communities. Extra security measures that are not typically found in academic laboratories also contribute to a safe environment in an RBL.

Because the Federal government is encouraging and funding research on infectious diseases that typically require BSL-3 biocontainment, they also have provided construction grants to increase the number of facilities nationwide. In 2003, the National Institutes of Health awarded the University of Missouri-Columbia funds to construct an RBL, biosafety level 3.

Laboratories that are designed for research on infectious diseases are classified into four categories, BSL-1 through BSL-4. While much of the infectious diseases research is done in laboratories with BSL-1 and -2 capabilities, a BSL-3 laboratory is required to provide a safe environment for work with more serious agents associated with human disease, especially those that can cause illness by spreading through the air. A BSL-3 laboratory is designed to protect researchers and has special engineering and design features to prevent microorganisms from being disseminated into the environment. Researchers who use the BSL-3 laboratories have thorough training in handling hazardous infectious agents. Access to the laboratory is strictly controlled.

2. What is the difference between a BSL-3 and a BSL-4 facility?
The Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health have delineated the differences between BSL-3 and BSL-4 facilities in their book, Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories. There are specific containment requirements that protect the researchers and areas external to the laboratory itself. These are referred to as primary and secondary barriers. Primary barriers include different types of biological safety cabinets, engineering controls, equipment design, in addition to special personnel protective equipment, training and required laboratory practices. Secondary barriers focus on facility design and construction and include different requirements regarding separation from public access, decontamination equipment, specialized ventilation systems, controlled access and entry airlocks.

BSL-3 containment facilities are used for clinical, diagnostic, teaching, research or production facilities where the infectious agents have the potential for transmission through the air and the diseases can have serious or lethal consequences if treatment is not administered. Examples of infectious agents that require BSL-3 laboratories include West Nile virus and the bacterium that causes tuberculosis.

In a BSL-4 facility, all BSL-3 requirements must be in place. In addition, the laboratory worker is isolated completely from the infectious materials by working in a full-body, air-supplied positive pressure personnel suit. Complex, specialized ventilation requirements, waste management systems, design and construction standards make BSL-4 facilities a sealed internal shell with multiple levels of protection. BSL-4 facilities are used for work with dangerous and exotic agents (such as Ebola virus or smallpox) that pose unknown risks for disease transmission, high individual risk for laboratory infections or life-threatening disease. Because of the complex and specialized nature of these facilities, only a few exist in the United States. Work on BSL-4 biological agents cannot be done at the University of Missouri-Columbia RBL facility.

3. What will be studied in the laboratory?
MU and collaborating scientists from other institutions will study a variety of pathogens including bacteria and viruses. The goal of these studies is to develop drugs, treatments and vaccines to combat these microorganisms so that they no longer pose a threat to public health. Some of the organisms that will be studied within the RBL are dangerous if not handled properly. Therefore, the facility will be designed and built to meet and exceed stringent federal safety standards to protect researchers and the community.

4. Who will provide oversight of the laboratory?
The facility will be owned and operated by MU. Only personnel specifically trained in biocontainment procedures and authorized for work with these agents will be allowed access to the RBL laboratories.

5. How will you ensure nothing leaks from the facility?
Because of the select agents involved, a BSL-3 facility is one of the most cautiously designed and constructed types of buildings in the world. The BSL-3 facility will be a self-contained unit. It will have its own air supplies, filters, power supplies, decontamination and waste disposal systems. All critical systems will be built with redundancy so that back-up units are ready for use in the event that primary units fail to operate. For example, the air that comes out of the building will be filtered through high efficiency particle filters and the air from the entire building will undergo additional high-level filtration. In effect, the air that leaves the building is cleaner than the air that enters the building.

6. What are the evacuation plans?
MU has an emergency response plan currently used for various disasters, including fire, floods and other natural disasters. The plan will include evacuation procedures associated with the new BSL-3 facility. The plan will be reviewed and refined with the appropriate emergency response agencies in order to coordinate with local authorities. Once implemented, periodic drills will take place to ensure efficient plan performance.

7. What security plans will be in place to keep the building safe?
The facility will be constructed within a secured perimeter in accordance with federal standards. In addition, MU has retained experts to identify areas of concern and to assist with design that reduces and/or eliminates risk. Creating a secure perimeter and structure, assigning security authorized and trained staff, and installing sophisticated security access and state-of-the-art audit systems are the cornerstones of the plan to keep the building safe.

8. What kind of security clearance will the workers in the laboratory need?
Clearance for all staff in the building will be determined by MU, consistent with institutional and government-mandated regulations and standards. For example, all employees working with select agents are required to complete a federal background check and be compliant with all aspects of the Patriot Act.

9. What is the safety record of BSL-3 laboratories?
BSL-3 research laboratories have a spotless record of biocontainment safety. Furthermore, the technology associated with the design and construction of such facilities has significantly improved over the years. The MU RBL facility will be state of the art in its containment and safety features and will provide a research environment that is safe not only to the workers within the laboratories, but to the surrounding area outside.

10. Where will the building be located?
The site will be located on the MU campus near the veterinary medical and animal sciences complex.

11. Are there other plans for that area?
According to the MU Master Plan, there are other research buildings, such as the national swine research center, that are being built in the area. For a detailed map, visit: http://www.cf.missouri.edu/masterplan/05maphome/05maphome.html

12. How will the Level 3 agents be transported to the building?
Transportation of infectious materials is governed by strict national and international rules including guidelines from the Department of Transportation and the International Air Transport Authority. All biological samples that are potentially infectious are packed, shipped and transported by authorized individuals. MU is notified in advance that a shipment is expected. Trained personnel are given a schedule of arrival for incoming shipments and are prepared to receive them; transportation policies can be viewed at http://bmbl.od.nih.gov/appendc.htm

13. What will be the benefits to the community from the laboratory?
The research will benefit the community as new treatments and preventive vaccines against emerging and reemerging infectious diseases will be developed. This project will also have a significant economic and community impact as well. In addition to the construction jobs that will be generated, permanent jobs -- at all levels including, environmental services, lab technicians, scientists and administrative staff-- will be created to operate the facility.

14. Will there be any toxic waste created?If so, how will that affect the environment?
All effluents and waste materials are sterilized to eliminate infectious materials prior to leaving the RBL. All other hazardous material waste will be handled, contained, labeled and disposed in accordance with MU campus, local, state and federal requirements.

15. How will you alert the public if there is an outbreak? What are the chances of this happening?
The University of Missouri-Columbia has an emergency response plan currently used for various disasters, including fire, flood and other natural disasters. The Plan is being upgraded to include public notification procedures associated with the new BSL-3 facility. The Plan will be reviewed and refined with the appropriate emergency response agencies in order to coordinate with local authorities and to ensure effective notification of the public. Once implemented, periodic drills will take place to ensure efficient plan performance.

16. Can I visit the building?
Once the RBL is operational, access to it is restricted to those specifically trained and authorized to enter the facility.