scope:

This guideline is intended to describe best laboratory practices for the protection of clinical laboratory workers from exposure to infectious pathogens. M29 was revised to provide guidance for clinical laboratory directors, managers, and supervisors in developing an effective laboratory-specific biosafety program according to the risks associated within the scope of services offered by the laboratory. The focus of this document is to provide guidance for laboratory management on the integration of appropriate biosafety practices within the overall laboratory safety program. The implementation of effective administrative controls as described herein is intended to provide the safest possible laboratory workplace where potentially infectious materials are present.

This guideline directly addresses issues concerning the biological risks present in clinical laboratories, in hospitals, and in other patient care settings. The same risk mitigation and exposure avoidance practices are also appropriate for many other diagnostic laboratory settings such as physician's office laboratories; reference laboratories; or local, regional, or state public health laboratories. Even workers in a clinical veterinary diagnostic laboratory are at risk for exposure to many common and uncommon infectious agents present in their patients' specimens. Although this document does not specifically address medical or animal research laboratories, information may be applicable to research settings in which specimens containing potentially infectious materials are tested.