Biosafety and biosecurity are an integral part of quality laboratory systems. The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL), in partnership with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are providing tools and resources to strengthen biosafety and biosecurity in public health and clinical laboratories. 

As recently demonstrated by the recent Ebola and Zika virus outbreaks, it is essential that governmental public health laboratories have the capacity to safely work with high consequence and emerging pathogens and provide appropriate guidance to private clinical laboratories. Following are biosafety and biosecurity resources developed or compiled by APHL.     

APHL Resources

Guidelines and materials developed by APHL to assist public health laboratories.

  
Description
Competency Based Position Description for Biosafety Officials
APHL developed a competencies based position description for the onboarding of biosafety officials.
APHL Ebola Risk Assessment Template
APHL developed a template for public health laboratories for Ebola Risk Assessment.
APHL Biosafety Checklist
APHL developed a biosafety checklist for laboratories as a starting point to assess biosafety measures.
APHL Zika Risk Assessment Template
APHL Zika Risk Assessment Template
APHL Position Statement on Biosafety
APHL developed an official statement for biosafety
APHL Risk Assessment Best Practices and Examples
APHL has developed a list of components for best practices for risk assessments, paired with examples of different approaches to use for risk assessments.
APHL Biosafety and Biosecurity Fact Sheet
APHL developed a biosafety and biosecurity factsheet

Training Resources

Training opportunities (webinars, courses, conferences) for biosafety and biosecurity.

  
Description
Trainings, Workshops, and Webinars
Archived webinars, past trainings and documents from workshops
APHL Packaging and Shipping Training
Training courses in packaging and shipping provided in different locations around the country
American Biological Safety Association
ABSA has many courses and webinars which are useful for individuals seeking information regarding biosafety and biosecurity.
Eagleson Institute
The Eagleson Institute provides many training seminar series, webinars, and educational courses focused in biosafety and biosecurity.
Behavioral-Based Improvement Solutions
The behaviorial based improvement solutions tackles biosafety and biosecurity from a personnel and behaviorial perspective. The program features Biosafe 360 by Sean Kauffman.

​​Additional Resources

Organizations, associations, and federal programs which offer resources, regulations, certifications or guidance pertinent to enhancing a laboratory's biosafety and biosecurity program.

  
Description
Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories
The BMBL 5th Edition is a comprehensive biosafety guide for all laboratory work
IATA Packaging and Shipping
Packaging and Shipping regulation
Guidelines for Safe Work Practices in Human and Animal Medical Diagnostic Laboratories
The CDC in conjunction with the Biosafety Blue Ribbon Panel compiled guidelines for safe work practices in clinical laboratories
International Biological and Chemical Threat Reduction Risk Management Tools from Sandia National Laboratories
The Sandia National Laboratories website for threat reduction. Some tools for risk management and software tools are available under the 'Risk Management' link on the right pane.


Journal: Applied Biosafety
The Journal of ABSA International is a peer-reviewed scientific journal for global biosafety awareness.
Federal Select Agent Program
The Federal Select Agent Program has many biosafety and biosecurity guidelines which can be adapted for non-select agent work.
Guidelines for Biosafety Laboratory Competency MMWR 2011
The CDC and APHL developed guidelines for Biosafety Laboratory Competency-competency details are in the appendix.
Virtual Biosecurity Center
The Virtual Biosecurity Center includes documents, trainings, and news items related to biosecurity
Competency Guidelines for Public Health Laboratory Professionals: CDC and APHL
APHL and CDC developed competencies for public health laboratory professionals published in the CDC's MMWR.
World Health Organization Biosafety
The World Health Organization (WHO) published a laboratory biosafety manual to cover risk assesments, recombinant DNA technology, and guidelines for certification of laboratories.
DOT Packaging and Shipping
DOT Packaging and Shipping Regulation
  
World War Z: Could a Zombie Virus Happen?
Safety failures at Army lab led to anthrax mistakes
Biological research: Rethink biosafety
A National Biosafety and Biosecurity System in the United States
CDC hires top lab safety official
Biological Labs Operate Safely: ABSA Opinion