CELL CULTURES

When cell cultures are known to contain an etiologic agent or an oncogenic virus, the cell line can be classified as the same level as that recommended  for the agent.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and OSHA recommend that all cell lines of human origin be handled at Biosafety Level 2.

All continuous cell lines should be regularly monitored for contamination with infectious agents, and it should be emphasized that all nutrient media or other reagents that may contain ingredients of biologic origin must be treated as though they contain potentially infectious agents.

Cell lines which are non-primate or are of normal primate origin, which do not harbor a primate virus, which are not contaminated with bacteria, mycoplasma or fungi and which are well established may be considered Class 1 cell lines and handled at Biosafety Level 1.

Primate cells derived from lymphoid or tumor tissue, all cell lines exposed to or transformed by a primate oncogenic virus, all clinical material (e.g., samples of human tissues and fluids obtained after surgical resection or autopsy), all primate tissue, all cell lines new to the laboratory (until proven to be free of all adventitious agents) and all virus and mycoplasma-containing primate cell lines are classified as Class 2 and should be handled at Biosafety Level 2.

It is prudent to adopt Standard or Universal Precautions (treating all material as if it is infectious) for the handling of cultured cells.  All cell manipulations should be performed in a biological safety cabinet using BL-2 practices and procedures, including the use of personal protective equipment such as a buttoned laboratory coat and gloves.