Biosafety

The following substances are generally considered biohazardous. 

• Infectious Agents (includes human, animal, and plant pathogens)

• Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid

• Select Agents/Toxins (see list) or Other Toxin of Biological Origin

• Tissue (unfixed) or Body Fluids of Human/Primate Origin

• Cells or Cell Lines of Human/Primate Origin

• Gene Drive Modified Organisms 

Contact the IBC if you have questions about whether a substance is considered biohazardous.

Researchers may submit a short and easy to complete Biosafety Protocol Inquiry Form to have the IBC determine if an approved protocol is required for the proposed research.  This initial inquiry is helpful in situations where the "biohazardous" status of a substance is not immediately clear. 

Completing an inquiry form is not necessary when a researcher is confident an IBC approved protocol will be required for the research.   

Researchers intending to work with biohazardous material must have their protocol reviewed and approved by the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) prior to starting work.

Refer to the IBC web page for a detailed description of the approval process, protocol registration forms, and submission deadlines. 

The Principal Investigator IBC Protocol Handbook and Institutional Biosafety Committee Handbook contain detailed information regarding biosafety practices and procedures at ISU.

Policies

• Misconduct in Research and Scholarship ISUPP 7060
• ISU Laboratory Safety ISUPP 7110
• Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator Eligibility and Responsibility ISUPP 7090

Select Agents Regulations

• Select Agents and Toxins List
• 7 CFR Part 331 - Agriculture
• 9 CFR Part 121 - Animals and Animal Products
• 42 CFR Part 73 - Public Health (CDC)

Guidelines 

• NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules
• CDC Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL)

Biosafety Publications

• Guidelines for Biosafety Laboratory Competency

ISU Biosafety Handbooks

• Institutional Biosafety Committee Handbook
• Principal Investigator IBC Protocol Handbook