Semakova A. Р., Germanchuk V. G., Gordeeva M. V., Shavina N.Y. Topical issues of ensuring biological safety in the laboratory for keeping infected animals. Laboratory Animals for Science. 2021; 1. https://doi.org/10.29296/2618723X-2021-01-05
The scientific and industrial focus of biomedical research using pathogenic biological agents requires a serious comprehensive approach to meeting biological safety requirements. Risk assessment is at the heart of biosafety practice. Laboratory animals are an integral part of biomedical research. When working or in the process of caring for animals infected with highly virulent pathogens, the biological hazard significantly increases, the risk of infection of the experimenter and the contamination of the environment grows. The laboratory must establish the factors that determine the safety of working with animals infected with pathogenic agents in accordance with the required level of hazard. These factors include primary and secondary barriers for personnel protection. Personal protective equipment and special equipment are considered the first line of protection for the staff and the environment. Secondary barriers include the layout and technological devices of the premises.
Managing the risks associated with agents of dangerous diseases common to humans and animals involves understanding the requirements of the legal framework. The main document regulating the activities of legal entities with pathogens of especially dangerous infections and containing basic rules for safe work with them in the Russian Federation are Sanitary Regulations SR 1.3.3118-13 "Safety of work with microorganisms of I - II pathogenicity (hazard) groups". However, they do not cover such topical issues as the design of vivaria, the availability of the necessary special equipment, the methods of its installation, the rules for working on it, which makes them not quite appropriate from a practical point of view. Therefore, our specialists are forced to turn to the guidelines of foreign countries and WHO for reference information, which are of a practical nature, contain reliable data and recommendations, are convenient practice manuals with the possibility of improvement.
The widespread introduction of modern engineering and technical systems for ensuring biosafety and high-tech protective equipment into the practical activities of laboratories using infected animals in their work, the peculiarities of methodological approaches when working with them determine the relevance of the development of a specialized regulatory and methodological document on safe keeping and handling of the laboratory animals at the national level.
Semakova A. P. – significant contribution to the concept or design of the work; collection, analysis or interpretation of work results, writing the text, agreement to be responsible for all aspects of the work.
Germanchuk V. G. – approval of the final version of the manuscript for publication.
Gordeeva M. V. – or critical revision of its content, approval of the final version of the manuscript for publication.
Shavina N. Y. – collection, analysis or interpretation of work results.
Kislitsina E. V. – collection, analysis or interpretation of work results.