Laboratory biosafety guidance related to SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19): Interim guidance, 11 March 2024
Overview
Presentation: Preparing to Work with SARS-CoV-2 in supplement to WHO Laboratory biosafety guidance related to coronavirus disease (COVID-19)
The purpose of this document is to provide interim guidance on laboratory biosafety related to the SARS-CoV-2 virus to laboratories and stakeholders involved in COVID-19 laboratory work. This also includes the packaging and shipment requirements for sending specimens to WHO reference laboratories providing confirmatory and other testing for COVID-19.
The latest update (11 March 2024) includes the following addition and revision:
- depending on the local risk assessment, less stringent risk control measures for virus isolation and propagation of currently circulating strains;
- biosafety aspects of waste management;
- detailed considerations for transportation requirements; and
- reference to the 4th edition Laboratory biosafety manual for GMPP (good microbiological practice and procedure) and to the Risk assessment monograph for the risk assessment template.
For more details on biosafety, it is encouraged to refer to the WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual (LBM4) suite, including risk assessment, PPE, decontamination and other subject-specific monographs: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240011311
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