Guidelines
University Guidelines
The Princeton University Biosafety Manual is intended to be a resource for information, guidelines, policies, and procedures that will enable and encourage those working in the laboratory environment to work safely and reduce or eliminate the potential for exposure to biological hazards. The information presented here also reflects the requirements and guidelines of federal and state regulations. It is intended that the Principal Investigator and supervisory personnel will supplement this information with instruction and guidance regarding specific practices and procedures unique to the work being done by those in their laboratories.
Federal Regulations and Granting Agency Requirements
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant DNA Molecules (NIH Guidelines) specify practices for constructing and handling: (i) recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecules, and (ii) organisms and viruses containing recombinant DNA molecules. In addition, these guidelines mandate the establishment of an Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) for the review and oversight of biological research and outline roles and responsibilities for biosafety.
of biological agents and toxins that have the potential to pose a severe threat to public, animal
or plant health, or to animal or plant products. The NSAR currently requires registration
of facilities including government agencies, universities, research institutions, and commercial
entities that possess, use or transfer biological agents and toxins. The U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Agriculture (USDA) implemented the provisions of Public Law 107-188, the "Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness Response Act of 2002" through a series of regulations. These regulations culminated with the publication of the final Select Agents Regulations (42 CFR Part 73, 7 CFR Part 331, 9 CFR Part 121) in the Federal Register on March 18, 2005. The Final Rules were published in the Federal Register on March 18, 2005 and became effective on April 18, 2005.
