Veterinary Epidemiology and Zoonosis

Handling of biomaterials

HANDLING OF BIOMATERIAL

• Bio - living; Materials - things / substances / beings
• Biomaterials can be living substances like animals and animal byproducts, vaccines, diagnostic, sera, superior germplasms, etc.
• For handling of biomaterials the type of laboratories is prescribed by the WHO in a laboratory biosafety manual 1989, and has suggested the requirement of biosafety.

S. No	Risk group	Laboratory classification
1	Low individual risk and low Community risk	Basic
2	Moderate individual risk and Related community risk	Basic with biosafety cabinet
3	High individual and Low community risk	Containment
4	High individual and High community risk	Maximum containment

• While dispatching samples triple layer containers have to be used to prevent leakage of materials.
• All the rules and regulations prescribed by the international postal agencies, international insurance agencies, sender’s country and the recipient’s country have to be followed.
• Before submitting the samples to the international agencies prior contact with that particular organization is essential.
• After mailing the samples the concerned persons of that country should be informed to receive the samples for processing and forwarding the results.