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  • Bio-Safety Training

    • Risk Groups

    Classification of organisms according to risk group has traditionally been used to categorize the relative hazards of infective organisms.  

    Other material may also be bio-hazardous and may include

    Specific procedures for the materials listed above are included in Health Canada 's Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines located at:

    http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/pphb-dgspsp/ols-bsl/index.html

    These classifications presume ordinary circumstances in the research laboratory, or growth in small volumes for diagnostic and experimental purposes. Four levels of risk have been defined as follows: 

    Risk Group 1 (low individual and community risk)

    A biological agent that is unlikely to cause disease in healthy workers or animals.

    PHAC list on non-pathogenic organisms (Human only)

    Risk Group 2 (moderate individual risk, limited community risk)

    1. PHAC List of Risk Group 2 organisms
    2. PHAC List of Risk Group 2 toxins
    3. Human blood, tissue and body fluids from healthy individuals

    A pathogen that can cause human or animal disease but, under normal circumstances, is unlikely to be a serious hazard to laboratory workers, the community, livestock, or the environment. Laboratory exposures rarely cause infection leading to serious disease; effective treatment and preventive measures are available, and the risk of spread is limited. Risk Group 1 material manipulated in quantities greater than 10 Litres would be considered Risk Group 2.

    Risk Group 3 (high individual risk, low community risk)

    PHAC List of Risk Group 3 organisms

    Not used at the Verity of Waterloo

    A pathogen that usually produces very serious human or animal disease, often untreatable, and may be readily transmitted from one individual to another, or from animal to human or vice-versa directly or indirectly, or by casual contact. A pathogen that can cause human or animal disease but, under normal circumstances, is unlikely to be a serious hazard to laboratory workers, the community, livestock, or the environment.   Laboratory exposures rarely cause infection leading to serious disease; effective treatment and preventive measures are available, and the risk of spread is limited.

    Risk Group 4 (high individual risk, high community risk)

    PHAC List of Risk Group 4 organisms

    PHAC List of Prohibited Toxins and organisms

    Not used at the University of Waterloo

    A pathogen that usually causes serious human or animal disease or can result in serious economic consequences but does not ordinarily spread by casual contact from one individual to another, or that causes diseases treatable by anti microbial or anti parasitic agents.