A laboratory is a necessary place for scientific research work. The World Health Organization divides biological laboratories into four levels based on their biological safety level (BSL): P1 (Protection level 1), P2, P3, and P4, based on their pathogenicity and risk of infection. The fourth level is the highest level of biosafety, which can effectively prevent the release of infectious pathogens into the environment and provide safety assurance for researchers.
The work that the P1-P4 laboratory can undertake is also classified according to the safety level, with strict levels ranging from low to high. The following are specific grading requirements:
P1 laboratory: Basic laboratory, suitable for low harm to human body, animals and plants, or the environment, without pathogenic factors for healthy adults, animals and plants.
P2 Laboratory: Basic laboratory, suitable for pathogenic factors with moderate or potential harm to humans, animals, plants, or the environment. It does not cause serious harm to healthy adults, animals, and the environment, and provides effective prevention and treatment measures.
P3 Laboratory: A protective laboratory suitable for handling highly harmful diseases to humans, animals, plants, or the environment that can be transmitted to humans through direct contact or aerosols, or pathogenic factors that are highly harmful to animals, plants, and the environment. It usually has preventive and therapeutic measures.
P4 Laboratory: The highest level of protection laboratory, suitable for pathogenic factors that are highly harmful to human beings, animals, plants, or the environment, and are transmitted through aerosol routes or have unknown or highly dangerous transmission routes. There are no preventive and therapeutic measures.