The laboratory is a sensitive and complex environment whose services are essential for the identification, confirmation of the causes of common diseases or in case of epidemic. There is therefore a proven biological risk that people in direct or indirect contact, are likely to be contaminated by infectious agents of bacterial, viral, fungal origin, unconventional transmissible agents or parasites, allergies or intoxications.
In order to align with the requirements of the HSS Report, the Ministry of Public Health and the Laboratory's management found it timely in light of international requirements and the need to make the country's laboratory services more efficient in developing this national guide of Biosafety and Biosecurity.
This guide is a result of close multi-sector collaboration involving the technical expertise of national stakeholders and development partners, including METABIOTA-JOHNS HOPKINS Cameroon with financial support from the Global Health Security Agenda.
This guide is intended for use by all the players in the laboratory system and aims to:
- To tie old laboratory practices to new WHO standards and guidelines on biosafety.
- To provide information on the safe handling, transport and disposal of equipment and organisms with biological hazards.
- Harmonize current laboratory practices at the national level.
The section found in this document mainly includes the definition of the technical terms used; it presents biosafety and biosecurity measures according to the type of laboratories that are themselves classified on the basis of microorganisms they used, the risks they entail and the appropriate biosafety and biosecurity measures to be respected.
This guide presents in detail the RISK ASSESSMENT PROCESS in its fourth part, LABORATORY BEST PRACTICES to be observed by laboratory managers in order to avoid the risk of contamination and spread of infectious agents.
It is also envisaged taking into account EMERGENCY PLANS AND CONDUCT TO BE TAKEN IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. This chapter of the document describes the appropriate precautions that the laboratory or animal facility that handles and conserves microorganisms must observe; in particular, it must have an emergency plan to deal with any accidents that may occur. This emergency plan must make provision for actions to be taken in situations such as natural and other disasters, biological risks, sources of equipment and emergency supplies, and the alarm and information system.
In this guide, emphasis is placed on DISINFECTION AND STERILIZATION with emphasis on adherence to the recommendations for the use of disinfectants as prescribed by the manufacturer. It is also prescribed a guide of MANAGEMENT OF WASTE AND BEDS OF ANIMALS. The proper SAMPLING MANAGEMENT is featured prominently in this guide and avoids the use of samples for bioterrorism purposes. Occupational health must be guaranteed, it is well detailed in a chapter on "HEALTH AT WORK" where preventive measures and description of personal protective equipment, biosafety cabinets, and health insurance are described. Access to the data is not left behind; It also prescribed the conditions of data protection in the chapter "DATA SECURITY". Precautions to be taken for MANAGEMENT OF INCIDENTS AND ACCIDENTS are prescribed. Apart from the biological risks, the chemical risks are as dangerous and it is treated in the chapter on "CHEMICAL SAFETY".
It is clear that the handling of genetic materials necessarily entails risks, the conditions of SECURITY AND TECHNOLOGIES OF RECOMBINATION OF DNA are well prescribed. OTHER RISKS are taken into account; they include RISK OF FIRE, ELECTRICAL RISKS, RISKS OF SOUND, RADIOLOGICAL HAZARDS. Aspects of BIOSECURITY, BIOETHICS AND RESEARCH, MANAGEMENT AND RESPONSIBILITY, BIOSECURITY MONITORING AND EVALUATION AND LABORATORY BIOSETRY are well clarified.
It is irrefutable that this guide is now for all national and external stakeholders, the single reference for all interventions in biosafety and laboratory biosecurity in Cameroon.
Download the detailed presentation of the Guide here; (Pdf, 119Ko).
