What biosafety level involves biosafety cabinets to prevent airborne transmission?

Biosafety levels are a standard way to classify the containment precautions needed for working with infectious agents and biological materials. They range from BSL-1, which applies to organisms that are not known to cause disease in healthy humans, to BSL-4, which is reserved for the most dangerous pathogens.

BSL-3 is specifically designed for work involving agents that can cause serious or potentially lethal disease through inhalation. This level emphasizes the use of specific engineering controls such as biosafety cabinets to create a controlled environment, minimizing the risk of airborne transmission of pathogens. These cabinets provide a physical barrier between the operator and the biological agents while allowing for safe handling of materials.

Biosafety cabinets in BSL-3 facilities are crucial because they maintain a sterile environment and protect both the worker and the external environment from exposure to airborne pathogens. The use of these cabinets is a key characteristic distinguishing BSL-3 from lower biosafety levels, where airborne transmission is not as significant a concern, and stringent controls are not always necessary.