Biological hazards are organisms or substances produced by organisms that pose a threat to human health.
Biological hazards include:
- Viruses
- Toxins from biological sources
- Parasites
- Spores
- Fungi
- Pathogenic micro-organisms (e.g. bacteria)
- Bio-active substances
The biosafety levels (BSL-1 to BSL-4) describe the different levels of contamination, risk, and protective measures needed in laboratories for specific activities.
No biological sample that fits into any of these categories can be brought to SESAME, without appropriate treatment to ensure that the biological hazard is inactivated.
All biological samples must be treated before they are brought to SESAME, to ensure that no living organisms remain.
This may involve the following processes:
- Chemical fixation (e.g. with methanol or paraformaldehyde)
- Resin-mounting of tissue
- Freeze-drying (lyophyilization)
- Heat-treatment of liquid samples
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