Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines
2nd Edition 1996

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 PREFACE

In February 1977, the Medical Research Council of Canada (MRC) published Guidelines for the Handling of Recombinant DNA Molecules and Animal Viruses and Cells. The MRC Guidelines went further than similar documents in the United States of America or the United Kingdom, by addressing the laboratory safety of animal viruses and cells in culture as well as the potential safety problems raised by the application of the new genetic techniques.

MRC undertook this task because of its support of research in universities and their affiliated teaching hospitals. These Guidelines rapidly caused many research institutions to establish biohazard or biosafety committees. The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) and the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) adopted and implemented the Guidelines, as did a number of provincial and private research funding agencies. Moreover, the Minister of National Health and Welfare Canada stated that the Guidelines would apply to all research carried out or supported by the federal government. Also, while there was no formal legislative or regulatory enforcement, many industries adopted the Guidelines.

MRC published two revisions in 1979 and 1980, under the advice of its Biohazards Committee. These changes markedly reduced the containment requirements for research using recombinant DNA technology, in line with the rapidly changing perceptions of risk posed by these techniques. Limited changes were made to the containment requirements for the use of animal viruses and cells in 1990.

The 1990 Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines were developed by MRC and the Laboratory Centre for Disease Control (LCDC) who formed a joint Working Group consisting of the following persons: Dr. Lorne A. Babiuk (Chairman), Dr. Fraser E. Ashton, Dr. W.A. Black, Dr. Clarence Fuerst, Mrs. M.E. Kennedy, Dr. M.S. Mahdy, Mr. C. Blakeway Millar, Mr. S.T. Morawski, Dr. Marc Quevillon, Dr. Francis Rolleston and Dr. K.R. Rozee.

The Working Group's objective was to provide a technical document for those who design, build, operate or work in laboratories in which human pathogens are grown for research or development purposes. The focus of this document is therefore on the use of bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungi and other infectious agents which are pathogenic to humans. These agents may be encountered in laboratories, in universities, hospitals and their affiliated institutions, as well as in governmental, industrial, research, diagnostic and teaching laboratories.

If a microbial pathogen is isolated or suspected to be present in a specimen, it then must be handled at the appropriate containment level. Every pathogen isolated is to be handled according to the risk category.

After revision on the basis of their review, the report was submitted to MRC and Health Canada (HC) for their approval as a draft to be published for public comment. The public responses were analyzed by an editorial sub-committee comprised of Dr. L. Babiuk, Dr. C.M. Johnson-Lussenburg, Mrs. M.E. Kennedy, Dr. J. Penner, Dr. K. Rozee and Dr. P. Stockdale. The needed changes were made and the report was submitted to MRC and HC for final approval.

1.2 SCOPE OF THE DOCUMENT

The second edition of these guidelines has been updated to reflect currently recognized containment requirements and operational practices and is consistent with such practices worldwide. Additionally, current legislation relevant to microbiological laboratories is included in this edition. While this edition is published by Health Canada, Medical Research Council of Canada and NSERC will continue to use these Guidelines as a requirement in their granting process.

The draft of the second edition was distributed widely for comment and review. An editorial committee consisting of Ms. M.E.Kennedy (Chair), Dr. F. Ashton, Mr. Adrian Delaat, Dr. C.M. Johnson-Lussenburg, Ms. Anne Monteath and Dr. Jim Talbot was convened to review the comments received from the public discussion draft and prepare the final document.

We extend thanks to Liliane Leroux and Danielle Plouffe for their clerical assistance in the preparation of this document and to Eleanor Paulson for preparing the bibliography.