Laboratory Biosafety Manual

by World Health Organization

For more than 20 years, since it was first published in 1983 the Laboratory biosafety manual has provided practical guidance on biosafety techniques for use in laboratories at all levels. Good microbiological technique and appropriate use of biosafety equipment by well-trained staff remain the fundamental elements of laboratory biosafety. However, globalization significant advances in technology the emergence of new diseases and serious threats arising from the deliberate misuse and release of microbiological agents and toxins have necessitated a review of current procedures. For this new edition, therefore the manual has been extensively revised and expanded.

The manual now covers risk assessment and the safe use of recombinant DNA technology and provides guidelines for the commissioning and certification of laboratories. Biosecurity concepts are introduced and the latest international regulations for the transport of infectious substances are reflected. Material on safety in health-care laboratories previously published elsewhere by WHO has also been incorporated.

It is hoped that the manual will continue to encourage countries to implement biological safety programs and national codes of practice for the safe handling of potentially infectious materials.

186 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1983

About the author

The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that is concerned with international public health. It was established on 7 April 1948, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The WHO is a member of the United Nations Development Group. Its predecessor, the Health Organization, was an agency of the League of Nations.

The constitution of the World Health Organization had been signed by 61 countries on 22 July 1946, with the first meeting of the World Health Assembly finishing on 24 July 1948. It incorporated the Office international d'hygiène publique and the League of Nations Health Organization. Since its creation, it has played a leading role in the eradication of smallpox. Its current priorities include communicable diseases, in particular HIV/AIDS, Ebola, malaria and tuberculosis; the mitigation of the effects of non-communicable diseases; sexual and reproductive health, development, and aging; nutrition, food security and healthy eating; occupational health; substance abuse; and driving the development of reporting, publications, and networking.

The WHO is responsible for the World Health Report, a leading international publication on health, the worldwide World Health Survey, and World Health Day (7 April of every year)