Biological Safety

Biological Safety

This is an overview of the basic daily procedures and requirements for the use and handling of biohazardous materials at KUMC.

Biohazardous wastes include all biological products that are produced in a laboratory or medical setting and present a potential risk to human health. 

Some common categories of biohazardous materials are:

• Tissue/cell culture products
• Bacterial cultures
• Virus
• Antibodies
• Most proteins that have been produced in a laboratory.
• Bodily fluids (animal or human)
• Animal or human tissues

Biohazardous materials are common to most labs on the KUMC campus.  All researchers should be trained in proper handling techniques, personal decontamination, and basic equipment decontamination appropriate for the materials being used in their labs. 

Biosafety cabinets must be certified for use with BSL (Bio-Safety Level) of the materials you are using, and must have up-to-date inspections.  Individual laboratories arrange for inspections by contacting the EHS office at ehs@kumc.edu.

Personal protective garments must be worn properly, and must be suitable to the level of risk.

Decontamination solutions must be easily accessible in all areas in which biohazardous materials are used, and must be suitable to the materials being used in that area.

Biohazardous waste must be discarded in red biohazardous waste bags.  If your wastes will require autoclaving, ensure that the bag you use is autoclave-safe.  Biohazardous waste bags are collected by EHS. Contact EHS to pick-up biohazard waste by filling out the following form: Biohazard Pick-Up Form