Biological Safety

UPCOMING EVENTS:  The Biosafety module of SciShield, an online research administration system, will be implemented Fall 2024.  This system will provide a comprehensive approach to managing biosafety, regulatory compliance, and internal processes related to biological materials for laboratories and teaching courses. This system will also replace the use of Word document files for the submission of Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) protocols and associated amendments.

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].

Biological Safety is responsible for providing guidance on practices to minimize health and environmental hazards related to biological agents used in research and teaching within the university community. Programs implementing university policy and recognized best practices have been established to protect the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff; to protect managed and natural ecosystems; and to meet regulatory requirements of Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, and the National Institutes of Health.

The Oregon State University Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) is dedicated to ensuring the safe and compliant use of biological hazards in research and teaching. With full authority to impose containment requirements and procedural safeguards, the IBC meticulously reviews all biohazardous work conducted by OSU personnel or within OSU facilities. The committee’s oversight extends to auditing programs and inspecting facilities, guaranteeing that biological hazards are managed responsibly. For more information on the IBC, activities that require oversight, or access to submission forms, please visit the IBC Home Page

Get my Autoclave tested? - Autoclave testing

Know what activities require oversight? - Biological Activities Requiring Oversight

Log a Sharps injury? - Sharps Injury Log

Document Hepatitis B Vaccine Status? - Hep B Vaccine Status Form

IBC Forms:

    IBC Registration Form
    IBC Amendment Form - use to amend existing approved registrations

Request to Transfer Infectious Agents from OSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory

Animal Handler Safety Training is required for persons who will work with animals or have significant contact with animals. Hazard awareness topics covered include zoonotic diseases, animal allergies, research hazards, physical injuries and sharps hazards. Other topics are methods to minimize personal risks of injury or disease when working with animals and medical monitoring. Please visit the Institutional Animal Car and Use Committee (IACUC) website for training information under the IACUC Participant Requirements.

  • Animal Source Materials Training has been combined with the Lab Biosafety and Bloodborne Pathogen Training.  This training is required for any person that is NOT covered by IACUC/Animal Program Office but also works with animal source materials, especially vertebrate unfixed tissues and fluids.

Lab Biosafety and Bloodborne Pathogen Training is required for personnel work with blood, body fluids, unfixed tissues or cell lines of human origin and for all personnel who work with Risk Group 2 pathogens. The session combines the requirements for Bloodborne Pathogen training with an overview of best practices for working in a biological laboratory at BSL-2. Topics covered include hazard recognition, methods of minimizing risks to personnel, safe work practices, infectious waste and sharps management and what to do in the event of an exposure. Sessions are 60 minutes and offered via zoom.  Please visit SciShield to sign up for an upcoming session.

Training for Researchers using Recombinant DNA is required for personnel who work with recombinant DNA.  This training covers the essential requirements for conducting recombinant DNA research detailed in the NIH Guidelines for Research Involving Recombinant or Synthetic Nucleic Acid Molecules.  The training is an online module that is reviewed.  Training is documented when participants complete the accompanying Acknowledgement Form. The training can be accessed from the main IBC web page.

To access the CITI Biosafety content, use the ORI webpage and select the link for CITI LOGIN. For instruction for how to create an account and add content, see the CITI Guide to Getting Started